Dertig portretten van Sarah Bernhardt als Jeanne d’Arc before 1891

This is Nadar’s composite photographic print, featuring thirty portraits of Sarah Bernhardt as Joan of Arc. Here, the structural arrangement of these photographs emphasizes a formal grid, reducing each image to a component within a larger, almost scientific, taxonomy. Consider the use of photography as a medium. Nadar's work intersects with burgeoning semiotic interests in the late 19th century, exploring how images communicate ideas, values, and cultural narratives. These individual photographs, each capturing a different pose or expression of Bernhardt, become signs within a broader cultural discourse. The photographic medium also raises questions about authenticity and representation. How does Nadar's structured, almost clinical presentation destabilize established meanings around heroism and femininity by reducing Bernhardt to a series of reproducible images? The grid-like structure of the photographs compels us to consider how Nadar's choices function aesthetically and contribute to a broader philosophical discourse about identity, representation, and the role of the artist in shaping cultural narratives. This artwork encourages ongoing interpretation and re-interpretation within evolving cultural contexts.