Alphonse Daudet 1860

This portrait of Alphonse Daudet was taken by Felix Nadar, a prominent photographer in 19th-century Paris. Nadar captured many of the city’s leading intellectuals, artists, and writers. Daudet himself was a celebrated novelist whose work offered a critical perspective on French society. In this image, Daudet is presented as a man of sensitivity and intellect. His gaze is contemplative, his posture relaxed yet dignified. Nadar's work went against traditional, idealized portraiture. He aimed to capture something of the sitter's character. Nadar's approach resonates with a broader shift in the 19th century, a move toward greater psychological realism in the arts. Consider how photography, then a relatively new medium, democratized portraiture. It allowed for a wider range of individuals, not just the aristocracy, to have their likeness preserved. This portrait reflects not just Daudet's identity as a writer but also the changing social landscape of the time. It suggests a society increasingly interested in the individual and in capturing something of their inner life.