Lemercier, Gymnase, from the Actresses series (N203) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1889

This portrait of Lemercier of the Gymnase theatre, is part of the Actresses series by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. The sepia tones create a soft, almost dreamlike quality, emphasizing the delicate features of the subject. The composition is straightforward: a close-up of the actress, her gaze directed slightly off to the side, which lends an air of contemplative introspection. Looking closely, we can see how the photograph challenges fixed meanings of representation. The actress is not portrayed in a theatrical role, but rather as an individual. This reflects broader cultural shifts in the late 19th century, where the cult of the celebrity began to take hold, transforming the relationship between the performer and audience. The image’s formal qualities—its tonal range and intimate scale—serve to democratize the experience of art, as the subject seems to be within the viewer's grasp. This reflects how photographs can be more accessible than traditional forms of portraiture, and yet they also participate in constructing and disseminating ideas about beauty, fame, and identity.