La Simple 1860s

Curator: This is "La Simple," a photograph from the 1860s by Duroni et Murer, currently residing here at The Met. Editor: The subdued tonality imbues the subject with a sense of melancholy. The sitter's pose suggests resignation, and yet there's a formality in her attire. The contrast between the delicacy of the lace and the smoothness of her dress is quite intriguing. Curator: The name “La Simple” suggests a certain lack of ostentation. The use of simple photography, if one can call any work from that period “simple,” and sepia tones emphasizes the subject's, for lack of a better word, modesty, no? Though it must be stated, her gown seems rather lavish to me. Editor: Yes, but observe how her veil is arranged. Lace often serves as a symbol of fragility or perhaps even a type of delicate constraint, suggesting societal expectations of women during the time period, in an almost Virgin Mary type image, draped with fabric. It adds layers of cultural understanding. Curator: Indeed. The balance of light and shadow shapes the contours of her face, drawing the viewer's eye. See the dark band that goes down her dress and note how its geometry bisects it in order to define its volume and form? It is almost a pure shape that flattens that part of the dress into the photographic space. Editor: The positioning of her fan seems almost intentional, wouldn't you agree? It could signify a secret language or even be some type of coy flirtation, particularly in combination with the positioning of her body. Her slightly downturned eyes may reflect internalized emotions that society may expect her to keep private. Curator: Very insightful. Taken together, we find the artwork functions almost as a complex interplay of textures and composition; but for me, its effectiveness ultimately rests on its visual dynamics and balance of its compositional elements. Editor: Absolutely. What a revealing photograph it is, then, both culturally and visually. The symbols, taken together, certainly prompt a fascinating exploration into identity, history and perhaps constraint.