Artwork
Melle Vibon,
Melle Vibon, is a print by the Impressionist artist Marie-Alexandre Alophe. It dates from 1860 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This lithograph, part of the *Les Danseuses de l’Opéra* series (c.
About this work
It’s part of a series called *Les Danseuses de l’Opéra*, made around 1860.
This print shows Mlle Vibon, a dancer from the Paris Opera in the 1850s. It’s part of a series called *Les Danseuses de l’Opéra*, made around 1860. The piece blends Impressionism and Realism.
The dancer may have played a page in the ballet *Vert-Vert*. By then, many male roles were played by women dressed as men. Some prints in the series look like copies of early photos.
Check out the artist Marie-Alexandre Alophe.
Overview
This lithograph, part of the *Les Danseuses de l’Opéra* series (c. 1860), depicts Mlle Vibon, a minor Paris Opera dancer from the 1850s, possibly in the role of a page from the ballet *Vert-Vert*.
Subject & Meaning
The print highlights a practice prevalent at the time: women playing male roles *en travesti*, a phenomenon influenced by the Romantic ballet’s focus on the ballerina. Vibon’s portrayal may reflect her potential role as a page in *Vert-Vert*, choreographed by Joseph Mazilier.
Technique & Style
The work combines elements of Impressionism and Realism. Notably, some pieces in the series appear to be lithographic translations of photographs, possibly to overcome the small size and sepia tone limitations of early photography, allowing for larger, hand-colored prints.
History & Provenance
Created around 1860, the print is attributed to the *Les Danseuses de l’Opéra* collection. The artist behind this specific work is not explicitly named in the provided context, though the series is associated with Marie-Alexandre Alophe.
Context
Emerging alongside the commercial viability of photography in the 1860s, this lithograph series demonstrates the intersection of photographic and lithographic techniques in 19th-century art production.
Artist & collection
Artist
French lithographer who printed theater stars on silky paper in the 1860s. His prints capture ballerinas in *La Sylphide* and *Marco Spada*, Mademoiselle Fiocre in a Florentine drama, and Mademoiselle Plunkett twirling…
