Augustine Stoïkoff; Coralli

Art Historical Context

In 1864, French photographer André-Adolpheugène Disdéri *Augustine Stoïk; Coralli* using the albumen silver print process from a glass negative, hallmark of mid-19th-century photography This 7⅜ × 9¼-inch image, mounted on a larger album page, exemplifies the's shift toward accessible portraiture. Disdéri, a pioneer in the field, revolutionized photography by popularizing the *carte de visite*—compact calling-card portraits that swept Europe and America, making celebrity images collectible souvenirs. The albumen print, coated with egg whites for a glossy sheen and rich tonal depth, allowed for detailed, lifelike reproductions prized in Victorian albums. Here, the poised figures of Augustine Stoïkoff and Coralli—likely performers evoking the glamour of theater or ballet—invite viewers into a world of cultural stardom. Produced during photography's commercial boom, this work from The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Gilman Collection highlights how images democratized fame, bridging art and everyday fascination. (178 words)

About the Artist

André-Adolphe-Eugène Disdéri · 1819–1889

**André-Adolphe-Eugène Disdéri** (1819–1889) was a pioneering French photographer whose innovations transformed portraiture into a mass medium during the Second Empire. Born on March 28, 1819, in Paris, Disdéri pursued diverse careers in commerce, acting, and politics early on, while studying art amid personal hardships following his father's death, which compelled him to support his mother, sibli...