Twintig portretten van mogelijk Geneviève Lantelme before 1891

Here are twenty photographic portraits of Geneviève Lantelme, captured by Nadar. Her poses and expressions evoke a sense of theatricality, which was not uncommon for actresses and performers of her time. We may connect this to the ancient Greek theatrical masks, which also convey singular, strong emotions. Lantelme’s visage reminds me of the tragic mask—the melancholic features, frozen in time. You see, masks have always allowed performers to embody various personas and emotions, amplifying their presence. Consider the evolution: from the ancient Greek stage, where masks helped project voices and emotions, to the photographic studio, where actors posed to capture idealised or dramatic versions of themselves. In both, the goal is to evoke an emotional response. This cyclical progression is what I call a kind of collective memory, resurfacing across history, evolving, and taking on new forms.