Portret van Victor de Laprade 1861 - 1867

Carjat et Cie created this portrait of Victor de Laprade, a photograph, on an unconfirmed date. The image presents us with more than just an individual; it's a snapshot of 19th-century French society, immortalized within the confines of institutional presentation. Carjat et Cie, operated within a cultural milieu that highly valued portraiture as a means of documenting and celebrating its notable figures. Consider the rise of photography during this period, and the way the new technology democratized portraiture. Laprade, dressed in the attire of the French middle class, reflects the social and political currents of his time. By studying photographic portraits and studio records, alongside the biographies of figures like Laprade, we start to see the intricate links between artistic production and the broader social canvas. The meaning of this artwork is, therefore, contingent on its social and institutional context.