Portret van François Jules Edmond Got in de rol van Arnolphe in L'Écolde des Femmes before 1880

Editor: This is "Portret van François Jules Edmond Got in de rol van Arnolphe in L'École des Femmes", a gelatin-silver print before 1880, housed here at the Rijksmuseum. The formality of the pose and the theatrical costume really caught my eye. What can you tell me about its historical context? Curator: This image reveals a fascinating interplay between theatre, photography, and the cult of celebrity in the 19th century. The image of Got in costume operates on several levels. How might such an image circulate, and what social function could it perform? Editor: I'd guess it's promoting the Comédie-Française and perhaps trying to legitimize photography as an art form? Curator: Precisely! Think about the role of museums like the Rijksmuseum in shaping what is considered culturally important. Gelatin-silver prints like this one gained popularity partly due to their reproducibility. What implications did this have on art’s accessibility? Editor: It meant more people could own or see these images, even if they couldn't attend the theater. It democratized art a little? Curator: It offered a wider viewership and also contributed to the canonization of both the play and Got as a leading performer, something that persists even today through the museum. Now consider the theatrical nature of the pose. What's being staged here? Editor: Not just a portrait, but an advertisement and a performance frozen in time. It makes you consider all the power dynamics at play with audiences, actors, and social expectations. Curator: Exactly. Looking at art through the lens of its cultural context helps us see it as a social object. Editor: It definitely gives me a new appreciation for how much is going on behind a seemingly simple portrait. Thanks for unpacking it!