La Dogaresse 1861 - 1867

Curator: Looking at "La Dogaresse" here, a photograph created sometime between 1861 and 1867 by Pierre-Louis Pierson, what’s your immediate response to the image? Editor: There’s a haunting stillness, isn’t there? That intense, unwavering gaze paired with the almost theatrical costume… it's as if she’s daring you to judge her, or perhaps, more accurately, daring you to truly *see* her. The ornate lace detail, it's trying to hold me, but then she looks straight through me. Curator: Pierson's photographs, particularly of the Countess de Castiglione, of whom this is a portrait, offer an intriguing glimpse into the performative aspects of identity. She wasn't just photographed; she collaborated on staging these elaborate scenes. Here, she's enacting a historical role, specifically a Dogaresse of Venice, as the title suggests. Editor: I can see the staging, the theatricality that underscores my gut feeling. It's a portrait trying very hard to *be* something, yet at its heart it's still so still and vacant, even. Curator: Exactly. The Dogaresse were symbols of Venetian power and wealth, so by adopting that persona, the Countess, already a prominent figure, reinforced her own position and mystique. Photography allowed for the dissemination and control of her image, creating a carefully curated public persona. Editor: A public persona built on longing. The lace itself looks heavy, like it’s almost weighing her down, doesn’t it? Curator: Perhaps representing the burden of maintaining such an elaborate facade. Editor: Well, that makes sense. There’s such calculation on her face! Even the shadows seems strategically placed, enhancing that sense of drama. Curator: Consider the period too—the Second Empire in France was fascinated by historical grandeur and theatrical display. Photography was a relatively new medium, offering innovative ways to engage with both historical themes and the burgeoning cult of celebrity. It captured detail previously unachievable. The result becomes a portrait in dialogue with its own historical setting, using photographic processes, elaborate costuming and a willing participant to ask questions about the image of powerful women. Editor: Ultimately though, the lasting impression for me is the unsettling mixture of defiance and vulnerability in her gaze. And a hint of pity in response to her expression, too, perhaps. A lot is said in this image! Curator: A very evocative encounter, and thank you for sharing your observations, I do feel like you've added depth to the history with those intuitive thoughts. Editor: And thank you for always grounding my weird hunches.