Who painted Matra Reinhard?

Matra Reinhard was painted by Jacques-Philippe Potteau in 1868.

Where can I see Matra Reinhard?

Matra Reinhard is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Matra Reinhard?

Matra Reinhard is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Matra Reinhard

Jacques-Philippe Potteau , 1868

Matra Reinhard is a photography by the Impressionist artist Jacques-Philippe Potteau. It dates from 1868 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The image is a studio portrait of a young working‑class girl, captured with a neutral backdrop and even illumination.

About this work

Overview

The image is a studio portrait of a young working‑class girl, captured with a neutral backdrop and even illumination. Presented as a scientific record rather than a decorative piece, the photograph documents the sitter’s physical appearance and basic biographical details.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter is identified as a five‑year‑old born in Paris to parents who emigrated from Bohemia. Her modest stature—recorded as three and a half feet tall—places her within a demographic study of everyday people, emphasizing ordinary life over idealized representation.

Technique & Style

The photographer employed conventional commercial studio methods of the period, arranging the subject in a controlled pose under uniform lighting. Unlike typical portraiture, the background is a plain, unadorned surface, echoing the visual language of natural‑history specimen photography.

History & Provenance

Created by the naturalist‑photographer for an anthropological series commissioned by the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, the work formed part of a broader collection intended for scientific documentation of social types.