[Member of the Paris Commune: Augustine Prévost [Prévot], cantinière, à perpétuité, des fédérés] 1871

This photograph, taken by Ernest Eugène Appert, captures Augustine Prévost, a member of the Paris Commune. As a photographic print, this artwork is the result of industrial processes – the mass production of sensitized paper, the use of specialized lenses, and standardized darkroom chemistry. The image shows a woman seated, gazing directly at the viewer. Her clothing is simple but well-made, suggesting a working-class background with aspirations to something more. Appert's work here becomes more than a portrait; it's a document of social and political upheaval. The Paris Commune was a radical, socialist government that briefly ruled Paris in 1871. Photography allowed for the quick dissemination of images, and this print would have served as a potent symbol of the Commune's ideals, or a tool for its suppression, depending on the viewer's perspective. By understanding the photograph's materials and the historical context of its making, we gain insight into the complex relationship between art, politics, and social change.