Mourawieff dans La Diavolina 1863

This series of photographs shows a young woman named Mourawieff dressed as ‘La Diavolina,’ and was created by André-Adolphe-Eugène Disdéri. Disdéri was a photographer working in France in the mid-19th century. Mourawieff’s costume hints at the narratives entwined with performance and identity in 19th-century Europe. It is not accidental that she is dressed as ‘La Diavolina,’ or ‘The Little Devil.' The reference is likely to the opera ‘Fra Diavolo,’ set in early 19th-century Italy. Operatic characters, like historical figures, provided frameworks through which individuals could explore social roles. In an era defined by strict social conventions, performance granted individuals the space to explore identity. Here we see a confluence of photography and opera which provides a lens through which to consider 19th century society. Together they invite us to reflect on the societal expectations placed on women, and how the performance of identity may enable subversion and transgression.