Dertig portretten van Nellie Melba, Sigrid Arnoldson en Marthe Brandès in verschillende theaterrollen before 1891

This page from an unknown publication features thirty portraits of Nellie Melba, Sigrid Arnoldson, and Marthe Brandès by Nadar. Though undated, we can assume it was created in France in the late nineteenth century. Nadar was a celebrated portrait photographer in Paris, and these composite images of the singers in character offer a glimpse into the cultural milieu of the Belle Époque. The portraits provide a record of the operatic and theatrical productions popular at the time, while also showcasing Nadar's technical skill in capturing the likenesses of these performers in multiple roles. The very publication of these images demonstrates the growing importance of celebrity culture and the increasing accessibility of visual media. To understand this work more fully, one might consult theater and music archives, as well as publications and photographic journals from the period. Such research reveals the complex interplay between artistic production, celebrity culture, and technological innovation in late nineteenth-century France.