25 portretten van Otero, Dalzac, Lili Pinson en La Tortajada before 1899

This carte-de-visite album, by an anonymous maker, presents a collection of portraits in miniature, capturing figures like Otero, Dalzac, Pinson, and La Tortajada. The series of poses and expressions is evocative of the Nymph, the embodiment of youthful, sensual feminine energy. Consider the repeated gesture of a raised arm, a motif that can be traced back to classical antiquity. From the Venus Pudica to Renaissance depictions of nymphs, the gesture appears as if to modestly conceal, yet simultaneously draw attention to the female form. These echoes resonate through the ages, taking on different inflections as they surface in various cultural contexts. The persistence of this imagery speaks to our collective memory, to the deep-seated desires and anxieties that continue to shape our artistic expressions. Such gestures remind us of the cyclical nature of symbols—how they resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings across time.