Fotoreproductie van (vermoedelijk) een prent van Marie Thérèse Charlotte van Frankrijk, dochter van Lodewijk XVI c. 1863 - 1880

This is a photographic reproduction by Étienne Neurdein, likely of a print depicting Marie Thérèse Charlotte of France. The sepia tones and delicate rendering give the image a soft, ethereal quality. What strikes me is how Neurdein uses the photographic medium to engage with historical representation. The profile view, framed within an arched border, echoes classical portraiture, yet it's mediated through the relatively new technology of photography. This creates a fascinating tension between the desire to capture a likeness and the awareness of the image as a construct. Consider the semiotic implications here. The subject's hairstyle and dress function as signs, situating her within a specific historical and social context. However, by reproducing a print, Neurdein introduces another layer of interpretation. He invites us to consider not just the subject, but the very act of representation and its evolution across different media. The photograph becomes a signifier of a signifier, challenging any fixed notion of historical truth.