[La Comtesse in Ermine Cape] 1860s

This carte de visite photograph, taken in the 1860s, is attributed to French photographer Pierre-Louis Pierson. The photograph, part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, depicts a woman in an ermine cape, a popular fashion item of the time. The woman’s confident posture and lavish attire suggest she is a person of status. The image's simple background and composition highlight her elegant clothing, making it a classic example of 19th-century portraiture.