Costumed Subjects Transformed into Variety of Characters

Kansas City, MO -- Early photography is ripe with creative fictions. Actors, children, aristocrats, models, artists, psychiatric patients, maids, and all manner of the working class posed in front of cameras and were transformed into figures from history, literature, the Bible, or into an idealized version of themselves. Still Performing: Costume, Gesture, and Expression in 19th Century European Photography, which opens at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City Aug. 24, celebrates the unique and compelling ways 19th century European photographers used the medium to explore and document performance, transforming the photographer’s studio into a theatrical stage. The exhibition runs through Jan. 12, 2025.

A person in a dress holding a vase of flowers Description automatically generated“The subjects in this exhibition were highly influenced by popular entertainment—live theater, tableaux vivant, and dioramas—as well as tastes and trends in painting, drawing, and sculpture,” said Julián Zugazagoitia, Director & CEO of the Nelson-Atkins. “These works were made in a time of anxiety about photography’s relationships to the fine arts and reflect a close intermingling between the worlds of the ‘high’ and the ‘low’.”

Visiting a photographer’s studio in Europe in the mid to late 1800s was like going behind the scenes of a theatrical production. Props, backdrops, costumes, curtains, and controlled lighting converted otherwise ordinary portrait sessions into staged productions. Whether working in their homes or commercial studios, photographers cast themselves, friends, actors, models, and strangers in their photographs, transforming them into all types of characters, from young pickpockets to ancient Greek gods.

“These portraits are so fascinating, and I think our guests are going to be amazed at the rich creative complexity found in European photography’s first 50 years.” said Marijana Rayl, Assistant Curator, Photography.

Deliberately made, not casually taken, these staged photographs are often the result of collaborative efforts between photographer and sitter, such as with a series of portraits of Virginia Oldoini, the Countess of Castiglione. A prodigious narcissist, or perhaps just ahead of her time, the countess collaborated with the photographer Pierre-Louis Pierson to produce hundreds of portraits, directing every aspect of the picture-making process. Included in Still Performing is a very rare, hand-colored portrait of the countess.

The resulting photographs are an outstanding array of complex and compelling fictions showcasing the medium’s early creative potential.

The following programs are planned in conjunction with this exhibition:

Deaf Cultural Festival ASL Art Walk
Saturday, August 24, 2024
11–11:30 am, 2–2:30 pm
Meet in Bloch Lobby, proceed to galleries L10-11

The free Deaf Cultural Festival honors the rich history of art, identity, and empowerment in the d/Deaf and hard of hearing communities. Explore American Sign Language through hands-on art activities and enjoy entertainment from distinctly Deaf perspectives. Follow Deaf Educator Micki Keck to the photography galleries, where participants will discuss and learn about the new exhibition Still Performing: Costume, Gesture, and Expression in 19th Century European Photography. Note: This Art Walk is first-come, first-served and limited to 15 spots per tour.

Book Discussion: Exposition by Nathalie Léger
Thursday, January 9, 2025, 6–7 pm
Spencer Art Reference Library Reading Room, Bloch Building

Join Marijana Rayl and Spencer Art Reference Library staff Amelia Nelson and Stephanie Lawrence in a discussion of Léger’s book Exposition. In Exposition, Léger explores the life of the legendary Countess of Castiglione (1837-1899). Notorious for her scandalous love affairs and renowned for her beauty, the Countess used photography to transform herself into an icon, creating a remarkable body of self-portraiture that defied the conventions of her day.

The Curator and Conservator are IN!
Thursday, September 26, 2024
6-7pm $8 public, $5 members

Galleries L10-11

Get to know the stories behind the exhibition with Assistant Curator Marijana Rayl and Conservator Saori Lewis.

Check www.nelson-atkins.org for the latest programs.