Portret van Rosalia Rousseil als Cora in Article 47 before 1877

Editor: Here we have a print, a photograph titled "Portret van Rosalia Rousseil als Cora in Article 47", made by Etienne Carjat before 1877. It looks like a page from a magazine, maybe? The woman in the portrait seems to be gazing off with a quiet intensity. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Well, let's start by considering the context. This image, presented within a theatrical publication, suggests a deliberate construction of identity. "Rosalia Rousseil als Cora in Article 47" implies a specific character within a particular play. This instantly situates the work in the realm of representation and performance. Editor: Performance, as in, how women are viewed on stage and in society? Curator: Precisely. In the 19th century, the representation of women in theatre, and its depiction in print media, was fraught with complex socio-political implications. Cora, the character she plays, what does that role signify in Article 47, a play from 1870s France? This woman, in her photographic portrait, becomes both Rosalia Rousseil and Cora. It invites us to question the relationship between reality and representation. The gaze you mentioned, is it the character's, the actress's, or is it something else? Is there an underlying message of subversion of passive female imagery in this era? Editor: So, by examining the historical and social landscape, the artwork's meaning can open up new questions about how gender and identity intersect. The woman depicted might have even played the role differently to showcase female empowerment, given its contemporary resonance? Curator: Absolutely! It prompts us to think critically about not only what is presented, but also about the cultural forces at play when it was created. Editor: I see, now. That is, like, layers of performance, all within a photograph! Thank you, that really changed how I see this piece!