Portret van Elise Gourdine 1863 - 1875

Editor: Here we have an albumen print from between 1863 and 1875 by Auguste Charles Lyon, titled 'Portret van Elise Gourdine'. It's such a classic pose for the era. There's a stillness to it, a sort of quiet dignity, but also, I find myself wondering what Elise was really like. What do you see when you look at this portrait? Curator: You know, what strikes me is the subtle dance between presentation and reality. The heavy fabric of her dress, almost swallowing her whole, suggests a certain societal expectation, a visual armor. And yet, if you look closely, there's a fragility in her eyes. Almost a hint of… mischief, perhaps? Photography at that time wasn't exactly candid. How much of ‘Elise Gourdine’ are we really seeing, I wonder? Does the stiff pose speak of constraints, or could it equally hint at a determination to control her own image in this novel technology? Editor: That's a really interesting point about control, especially with early photography. It’s not just snapping a picture on your phone, is it? There's intention. Curator: Precisely! The photographer, Lyon, undoubtedly had a vision, a narrative he wanted to create. But so did Elise, I suspect. Think about it: she chose the dress, the jewelry – however constrained by the fashion of the time, there were choices to be made. The slightly self-aware way she holds her hand against that ornately carved table speaks of a deliberate construction of self. Editor: I never thought about it that way. It is a negotiation then between her and the artist… Curator: Indeed! It’s that push and pull that makes portraiture so endlessly fascinating. What story are *we* telling ourselves as we look at her all these years later? We’re adding another layer to that negotiation now. I wonder what Elise would think. Editor: Food for thought! I’m going to be looking at every portrait differently from now on. Thanks.