Photography was so popular during the Second Empire that many saw it as a rival for painting. And indeed some genres, such as the portrait were threatened by the new technology. The Imperial couple continued to have official portraits made, but at the same time (starting in 1856 with the birth of the Prince Impérial) posed frequently for photographers. The photographs were reprinted and distributed in huge numbers and they often show the sovereigns at home and as such were very effective propaganda tools.
After the fall of the Empire, the members of the imperial family in exile in England continued to have their photographs taken. This famous photomontage (made from three different photos) shows the family together in an interior decorated with Napoleonic souvenirs. K.H. trans. P.H.
The imperial family at Chislehurst
Artist(s) : FLAMANT E.
