Mlle Dominique; Mlle Rousseau 1864

Editor: This is "Mlle Dominique; Mlle Rousseau," a photograph taken in 1864 by André-Adolphe-Eugène Disdéri. The images show women in different attire. It feels very posed, and formal. What strikes you about this work? Curator: It's fascinating to consider the societal roles these women occupied and how the photographer, Disdéri, may have been complicit in reinforcing or challenging them. Consider the gaze, the costuming. Are we looking at agency or objectification? What is the historical context surrounding these images? The ballerinas, in their ethereal attire, might be seen as figures of liberation through movement, or conversely, as symbols of control and spectacle, designed for the male gaze. Editor: So, the contrasting presentations – formal dress versus ballet attire – really speak to those issues of freedom versus confinement? Curator: Precisely! And within the academic style, we see echoes of history painting - how does this influence the way we understand their identity, gender, and potential racial implications depending on who they might represent? Are we witnessing the documentation of historical figures or the construction of a certain narrative? It requires we investigate intersectional undertones. Editor: I see. By contrasting those visual languages, the photograph invites the viewer to think critically about the position of women at that time. Thank you, that’s an interesting angle. Curator: Absolutely. Thinking about who gets to represent whom, and to what purpose, is critical for unpacking the historical impact of a work like this. I’m grateful we got to dig into that together.