Portret van Juliette Darcourt c. 1880 - 1885

This is Nadar's portrait of Juliette Darcourt, captured with photography, a relatively new medium at the time. Looking at this image, it’s important to remember that photography, even in its early days, wasn’t just about capturing reality. It was also about crafting an image, one that spoke to social status and cultural ideals. Consider the sitter's elaborate dress, the way the light falls, and the backdrop—these are all carefully chosen to convey a certain message. And, of course, the very act of commissioning a photograph was itself a statement. Nadar's skill in photography elevates it from a mere document to an artistic statement. He was not only a photographer but also a caricaturist, journalist, novelist, and balloonist. He understood how to use photography to capture not just likeness but also personality and social context. This portrait is a reminder that all forms of image-making—photography included—are shaped by artistic choices and social forces.