Les Modes, 1903 : Mme Réjane / ROBE DE DINER 1903

This hand-coloured photogravure of Madame Réjane, captured by Léopold Reutlinger around 1903, is just so great. I can only imagine what it must have been like for Reutlinger to be in the studio with such a famous actress. The way he captured the light on her lace dinner gown feels incredibly intimate. Look at the subtle variations in the grey backdrop, with hints of blue and green. I bet that was meticulously hand-painted! When I look at this piece, I think about the tradition of portraiture and how artists like Reutlinger were pushing the boundaries of photography. Fashion photography wasn’t really a thing yet, but this feels like it’s on its way to becoming so. You see echoes of Nadar, but Reutlinger had a more refined interest in modern couture. It’s all about the details, you know? The pleats, the lace, the cut of the sleeves… It's all part of the story. And it’s all part of one giant conversation between artists. I mean, Reutlinger was likely looking at painters and thinking about how to translate their techniques into his own medium. And now, here we are, looking back at his work and finding new things to appreciate.