The Legs of the Opera (ca. 1862)
An unusual creation from the studio of André-Adolphe-Eugène Disdéri, the French photographer best known for inventing the hugely popular "carte de visite". In this wonderful example, titled "Les Jambes de l'Opera", Disdéri has created a collage composed entirely of legs belonging to opera (and ballet) stars. Although his patent on the "carte de visite" initially made him extremely wealthy, Disdéri ended up dying a penniless man. His system of reproducing photographs was itself so easy to reproduce that photographers soon did so without Disdéri benefiting, and the format was replaced in the late 60s by the larger cabinet card format.
Enjoyed this piece? We need your help to keep publishing.
The PDR is a non-profit project kept alive by reader donations – no ads, no paywalls, just the generosity of our community. It’s a really exciting model, but we need your help to keep it thriving. Visit our support page to become a Friend and receive our themed postcard packs. Or give a one-off donation. Already a supporter? A huge thank you for making all this possible.
 | Underlying Work Rights | PD Worldwide |
| Digital Copy Rights |
| |
 | Download | Right click on image or see source for higher res versions |
May 24, 2016
