Portret van mevrouw Cibiel c. 1860 - 1865

This is a photograph of Madame Cibiel, made by Disdéri & Co. In 19th century France, the rise of photography democratized portraiture. Before, only the wealthy could afford painted portraits. Photography studios, like Disdéri's, became businesses catering to a growing middle class eager to participate in visual culture. Here, Madame Cibiel is formally posed, seated in a chair, next to an interior backdrop, all visual cues of status. Yet, the photograph's affordability and reproducibility challenged traditional notions of exclusivity and artistic value. To understand this image, we can consult archives, business records, and sociological studies of the period. These resources help us understand how the burgeoning industry of commercial photography shaped social identities and challenged existing hierarchies. Art, as we see, is always embedded in a specific time, place, and set of economic relations.