25 portretten van Polaire, Foscolla, Barnell, Boïe, Miette en Blanche Marcel before 1899

This is a commercial sample sheet, made by an anonymous artist, showcasing a collection of portrait photographs. Produced in France, these images offer a glimpse into the cultural landscape of the early 20th century. The subjects – Polaire, Foscolla, Barnell, Boïe, Miette and Blanche Marcel – were performers, actresses, or other celebrities. This reflects the growing importance of mass media and celebrity culture at the time. The sample sheet itself points to an expanding market for portrait photography, fuelled by technological advancements and a growing middle class with disposable income. The format of the sheet, with its neatly arranged miniature portraits, reveals the influence of institutional structures on artistic production. These images were not intended as high art but rather as commodities within a burgeoning entertainment industry. To understand this artwork, we can research the careers and reception of these performers, the history of photography studios in France, and the broader social and economic trends that shaped popular culture at the time.