Madeleine 

Robert Demachy made "Madeleine," a portrait, using the gum-bichromate process. It was the late 19th century, a time when photography was still battling for acceptance as an art form. Demachy, a key figure in the Photo-Secession movement, championed photography as a medium for artistic expression. In "Madeleine," we encounter more than just a likeness; there’s an attempt to capture an essence, an identity. Note how the soft focus and the hazy quality, achieved through the gum-bichromate process, lends a dreamlike, almost ethereal quality to the image. This aesthetic choice diverges from the sharp, documentary style often associated with early photography. Demachy embraces a more painterly approach which invites us to consider the emotional and psychological depth of the sitter. Demachy's work often featured women, and his approach was rooted in the aesthetic and social conventions of his time. This photograph invites us to consider the gaze, the power dynamics inherent in portraiture, and the ways in which gender and identity are constructed through the photographic medium. "Madeleine" reflects a desire to elevate photography to the level of fine art, while also prompting reflection on the representation of women and the complexities of identity.