Le petit Russe 1860s

"Le petit Russe" is a charming portrait of a young boy in the 1860s by French photographer Pierre-Louis Pierson. This albumen print depicts a boy dressed in a dark, seemingly military-inspired, costume and boots, standing confidently in a studio setting with a large mirror behind him. The ornate, gilded mirror adds a formal touch to the image, while the boy's relaxed yet composed posture suggests the naturalism and intimacy of the carte de visite format, popular during this period. The image is now part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.