Sarah Bernhardt as Pierrot 

Felix Nadar captured Sarah Bernhardt as Pierrot, using photography's unique capacity to freeze a moment in time. The composition is dominated by the texture of Bernhardt's costume, rendered in shades of gray. This monochrome palette directs our focus to the material qualities, the fabric's sheen and the ruffles' delicate structure. Nadar plays with light, creating depth and volume through subtle gradations. Bernhardt's portrayal of Pierrot challenges fixed gender roles, destabilizing traditional categories. Her expression, a melancholic gaze, disrupts the expected exuberance associated with the character. Nadar's emphasis on materiality and texture serves a crucial function. It prompts us to reflect on the constructed nature of identity and representation, and the transformative power of performance. Here, the play of light and shadow invites us to deconstruct established meanings and embrace new perspectives.