La robe de moiré 1860s

Pierre-Louis Pierson made this albumen silver print, titled *La robe de moiré*, sometime in the mid-19th century. The photograph presents a portrait of a woman, likely of high social standing, dressed in an elaborate moiré gown. In France at this time, photography was still a relatively new medium, and portraiture was largely confined to the upper classes. The sitter’s dress and jewelry signal wealth, but so does the mere fact of her being photographed. Pierson’s work intersects with questions of class, representation, and the gaze. Royal patronage and the court society helped shape artistic production. The medium also changed art institutions, exhibition practices, and the art market. As historians, we can turn to sources like fashion plates, social registers, and even early photography journals to understand the context of this image better. By examining the image within its historical context, we can gain a richer understanding of the values, beliefs, and power structures of the time.