La Reine d'Étrurie 1863 - 1867

This is a photograph by Pierre-Louis Pierson, called 'La Reine d'Étrurie'. This image encapsulates the theatricality and constructed identities that photography enabled in 19th-century France. It invites us to consider the social role of portraiture within the context of empire and monarchy. The sitter, dressed in elaborate costume, embodies a historical character. This references a nostalgic longing for a past era of royalty, even as France was undergoing rapid modernization. This desire for a grandiose, yet bygone past reflects the complex relationship of 19th century France to its own political history. This image speaks to the institutional function of photography as a tool for constructing and disseminating social identities. By consulting resources such as theatre programs, costume design archives, and historical records, we can start to understand the performance of identity within this fascinating image.