Portret van de Comte d'Estreuve de Saint-Jean 1860 - 1873

This is a portrait of the Comte d'Estreuve de Saint-Jean, made by Nadar, the pseudonym of Gaspard-Félix Tournachon, in France, sometime in the mid-19th century using the new medium of photography. Nadar was more than a photographer; he was a caricaturist, journalist, novelist, and balloonist, deeply embedded in the cultural and political life of Paris. His photographic portraits weren't just likenesses, but attempts to capture the essence of his subjects, who were often fellow artists, writers, and intellectuals. This portrait presents the Comte in a somewhat unconventional pose, leaning casually on a table, his striped shirt adding a touch of informality to his aristocratic bearing. Nadar was progressive in that he was taking photography out of the studio and into the ‘real’ world. His work challenges the strict conventions of portraiture prevalent at the time. To fully understand Nadar's work, we need to consider the social and technological context of 19th-century France, using sources such as period journals, exhibition reviews, and Nadar's own writings. The power of art lies in its ability to reflect and challenge the norms of its time, making it essential to examine its original context.