Portret van Maria Clothilde van Savoye, prinses van Savoye 1855 - 1870

This photographic portrait of Maria Clothilde van Savoye was created by André-Adolphe-Eugène Disdéri using the then-innovative carte-de-visite format. The composition is dominated by the princess’s dress, its striped pattern creating a visual rhythm that both defines and confines her. The rigid vertical lines contrast sharply with the voluminous skirt, accentuating the artifice and constructed nature of aristocratic representation. The dark bodice and bow tie serve as focal points, drawing our eyes to the center of the frame and emphasizing the subject's constrained posture. Disdéri’s use of photography, a medium celebrated for its supposed objectivity, ironically reveals how portraits can be carefully constructed to convey power and status. This image operates within a complex semiotic system, where every detail—from the dress to the pose—functions as a signifier of social identity and cultural values. Consider how the seemingly straightforward depiction challenges fixed notions of representation and prompts a re-evaluation of photography’s role in shaping perceptions.