«Un retrato romántico. La carte de visite» Exhibition

The exhibition «Un retrato romántico. La carte de visite» will tell the story of the pioneers of photography in Spain, who set up their studios in Madrid when commercial photography was only just emerging. Photographic portraits were a striking phenomenon in the second half of the 19th century. This carte de visite format was in great demand, but competition among numerous studios drove prices down. As a result, portraiture became accessible to more social classes.

In addition to family portraits, the cards were used as a means of communication and even as a medium for advertising and propaganda, thus becoming an important element of visual culture.

The exhibition focuses on the people portrayed, the studios and related elements. All this helps us learn more about the photographers who worked in the capital and the evolution of photography.