Mlle Pancaldy 1850s - 1860s

André-Adolphe-Eugène Disdéri captured these eight views of Mlle Pancaldy using the carte de visite format, a popular photographic style in the mid-19th century. This seemingly innocent portrayal of a ballerina embodies complex negotiations of femininity and class during the Second Empire in France. Consider the performative nature of ballet itself, where women's bodies were simultaneously celebrated and disciplined. Mlle Pancaldy’s posture and costume reflect the period's emphasis on modesty and refinement, yet her profession places her in the public eye. Disdéri's choice to present multiple views hints at the commodification of the female image, made accessible to a broader audience through photography. In a society undergoing rapid industrialization, the rise of celebrity culture intertwined with the spectacle of ballet, inviting us to reflect on the artist's role in shaping perceptions of women in the 19th century.