Le Caracul (L'Astrakhan) 1860s

Pierre-Louis Pierson created this photograph, titled ‘Le Caracul (L'Astrakhan)’, sometime in the mid-19th century in France. Taken during the Second Empire, this piece reflects the opulence and strict social hierarchies of the time. The subject, draped in luxurious astrakhan fur, embodies the era's emphasis on extravagant display as a marker of status. The fur itself is a complicated symbol, astrakhan—made from the tightly curled fleece of newborn lambs—was highly prized and extremely expensive. This photograph stages the sitter, in her finery, in such a way as to emphasize the privilege, wealth, and class she occupies. Pierson was known for his portraits of Countess de Castiglione, a prominent figure in Napoleon III's court. This association places Pierson's work within a network of power, beauty, and political intrigue. Consider the implications of such an image: What stories might it conceal about the lives of those excluded from this world of luxury? This photograph captures a moment of constructed identity, reflecting both personal ambition and broader societal values.