Fotoreproductie van (vermoedelijk) een prent van Louise Françoise de La Baume Le Blanc de La Vallière, maîtresse van koning Lodewijk XIV van Frankrijk c. 1863 - 1880

This is a photo reproduction by Étienne Neurdein, likely of a print, depicting Louise Françoise de La Baume Le Blanc de La Vallière. The soft sepia tones immediately evoke a sense of nostalgia, framing a past era and its aesthetics. The image is characterized by its composition, an oval portrait set within a rectangular format, creating a visual hierarchy that draws attention to the sitter. Neurdein uses the frame within a frame, with an elegant arched border that creates a dialogue between the interior world of the portrait and the exterior world of the viewer. The materiality of the photograph itself, with its smooth surface and fine details, contrasts with the texture suggested in the sitter's hair. This image can be understood as a play between presence and representation, where the act of reproduction invites reflection on the nature of image and the passage of time. The geometric structure and tonal range serve not only aesthetic functions but also to open a space for cultural and historical interpretation.