[Portrait of an Unidentified Woman], photo Pierre Petit

Pierre Petit was a French photographer born on 29 October 1832 in Luxeuil-les-Bains, France. He began his career as a photographer in 1858 when he opened his first studio in Besançon. He quickly gained a reputation for his portrait work and became the city's official photographer. In 1862, Petit moved to Paris and opened a new studio in the heart of the city. He continued to specialise in portraiture, but also began to photograph important events and people of the day. He became famous for his photographs of famous people, including politicians, artists and writers. In 1870, during the Franco-Prussian War, Petit was appointed the official photographer of the French army. He documented the war and its aftermath, producing some of his most famous photographs. Petit continued to work as a photographer until his death on 16 December 1909. His legacy lives on through his vast collection of photographs, now housed in museums around the world. His work is considered an important part of French photographic history.