Cleveland Museum of Art

Portrait of Ernestine Nadar, the artist's wife, wearing fur stole

Nadar

Date

c. 1880–83

Medium

uncut sheet of three matte gelatin silver carte-de-visites

Culture

France

Department

Photography

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

This striking and unusual uncut sheet of carte-de-visite exposures was taken by one of France’s most successful early portraitist photographers, Nadar. Cartes de visites—small photographs the size of a visiting card (2.125 x 3.5 inches)—were statements of identity, meant to be seen by others. They were handed out to family, friends, and if one was a celebrity, purchased by fans. This is instead an intimate, direct exchange between sitter and camera, wife and husband. Nadar and his wife Ernestine were married for 54 years.

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