Fotoreproductie van Esmeralda door Antoine Wiertz before 1868

Edmond Fierlants created this photogravure reproduction of Antoine Wiertz's Esmeralda. Wiertz, a Belgian artist, often explored grand themes, and his choice of Esmeralda—a Roma character from Victor Hugo's "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame"—is particularly charged. Consider the mid-19th century, when both the novel and this artwork gained popularity. Esmeralda, a figure of both exoticism and marginalization, would have resonated deeply within the era's complex social structures. Her identity as an outsider, a woman, and a Roma person places her at the intersection of multiple forms of oppression and fascination. This image invites us to reflect on how narratives of the 'other' are constructed and consumed. Fierlants' photograph captures more than just an image; it encapsulates a moment of cultural imagination, reflecting the prevailing attitudes and anxieties surrounding identity and difference. It’s a poignant reminder of how art can both perpetuate and challenge societal norms.