Portrait of Fanny Janauschek c. 1860

Curator: This is a captivating albumen print titled "Portrait of Fanny Janauschek," dating from around 1860. The artist is Johann Philipp Hoff, and the work now resides here at the Städel Museum. Editor: The portrait’s scale is striking; the detail in her face really pulls you in. There is something in her expression that suggests a certain stoicism, an interiority, don't you think? Curator: Indeed. Janauschek was a celebrated actress, known for her intensity and emotional range on stage. Hoff's photograph captures a glimpse of that inner strength. The albumen process itself, of course, contributes to this richness, enhancing the tonal gradations and overall sharpness. Editor: And those gradations do interesting work around her face, directing light to specific angles to cast certain shadows around the eyes and mouth. But do we know anything about her public image? I am curious as to what types of role she usually accepted. Curator: Janauschek built her reputation performing powerful female characters in dramas and tragedies. Looking at the politics surrounding performance at the time, actresses navigated expectations of respectability with the potential for significant personal expression on stage. Editor: Her dress, high-necked and rather severe, also lends itself to that respectability. However, it’s what she is wearing—what that materiality does for us, formally. Note the interplay between the textured fabric of her dress and the smooth, almost porcelain quality of her skin, which emphasizes the difference between performance and a posed portrait, but hints that the artifice of performance can also penetrate one’s person. Curator: Fascinating observations. We might also consider the broader implications of portraiture during this period. Photography provided a burgeoning middle class with opportunities for visual self-representation. It challenged previous visual norms, shifting power dynamics in how people understood each other in visual formats. Editor: So, an early form of visual democratizing! Looking at it today, the piece reminds us that a single image can be layered with so much intention and cultural context. It certainly brings us to acknowledge the role of actresses like Janauschek as pioneering figures in society. Curator: Agreed, a fascinating intersection of individual character and larger societal trends. The albumen print offers a tangible connection to a pivotal era.