Le Grand Russe 1860s

"Le Grand Russe" is a 19th-century photographic portrait of a young boy, captured by the French photographer Pierre-Louis Pierson in the 1860s. The photograph, now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection, showcases the boy standing confidently, a pencil in hand, against a backdrop of a finely crafted, intricately carved table. Pierson’s work is notable for its sharp detail and clear composition, capturing a moment in time with precision. The boy’s attire and pose suggest a member of the nobility, highlighting the social context of the era through this intimate portrait.