Galli-Marié Mignon
1867
This 1867 caricature by Etienne Carjat pokes fun at the famous French mezzo-soprano Célestine Galli-Marié, depicting her in the title role of Ambroise Thomas's hit opera *Mignon*. Carjat, who was also a renowned photographer and friend to poets like Baudelaire, exaggerates her features with a comically oversized head, wild voluminous hair, and intense, heavy-lidded eyes perched on a tiny, barefoot body. The drawing captures the dramatic, somewhat brooding essence of the character Mignon, a mysterious young girl, while playfully mocking the singer's stage presence. It's a delightful example of 19th-century theatrical caricature that shows how even opera stars weren't safe from a good-natured roast!
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