Portret van Victoria Lafontaine before 1874

This portrait of Victoria Lafontaine was created by Ghémar Frères, photographers in nineteenth-century Brussels. It appears in the pages of a publication called "Bruxelles-Théâtre", a journal dedicated to the Théâtre Royal du Parc. In its heyday, this theatre was a highly influential cultural institution in the Belgian capital. The portrait is framed by an elaborate, classical architectural motif. It also incorporates a regal crest, suggesting the social importance of both the sitter, Victoria Lafontaine, and the theatrical world she inhabited. These clues hint at the institutional and social forces that shaped artistic production in this era. Was Lafontaine a celebrated actress? Was she known for playing patriotic roles, in the wake of Belgian independence? To understand this image better, a historian might delve into theatre archives or genealogical records. The meaning of this artwork is contingent on understanding its institutional and social context.