Marie-Alexandre MENUT ALOPHE (1812-1883) - Lot 220

Marie-Alexandre MENUT ALOPHE (1812-1883) Portrait of a Bourgeois Lady, circa 1870 Albumen print Dimensions: 16 x 11.6 cm Note: Portrait of a woman from the work of Marie-Alexandre Menut, known as Alophe, a photographer active in the 19th century, known for his portraits of the bourgeoisie and the artistic world. This print on albumen paper, the dominant process in the second half of the 19th century, is characterized by its fine detail and nuanced tonalities. It testifies to the rise of the photographic portrait as a means of social representation, particularly among the bourgeois classes. Posing, dress and staging all contribute to the construction of a codified image, revealing the customs and conventions of the time.