Artwork
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph is a photographic photography by A. Block. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
The photo is an example of a 'carte de visite', a type of photograph that was popular during the Victorian era.
This photograph shows Anna Judic in Les Charbonniers.
It was taken by A. Block in the 19th century.
The photo is an example of a 'carte de visite', a type of photograph that was popular during the Victorian era.
People collected these photos, which were made from glass negatives and attached to card backing.
The Victoria and Albert Museum holds this photograph.
Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
This 19th-century photograph, titled 'Guy Little Theatrical Photograph', depicts Anna Judic in the play 'Les Charbonniers'. Captured by photographer A. Block, it exemplifies the 'carte de visite' format, a popular Victorian-era photographic medium.
Subject & Meaning
The photograph features Anna Judic, a prominent actress of the time, in character for 'Les Charbonniers'. As a 'carte de visite', its primary function was to showcase the actress in a theatrical role, catering to the public's desire for images of celebrated performers.
Technique & Style
Produced from a glass negative, the image is mounted on stiff card backing, characteristic of 'cartes de visite'. The format, patented in 1854, utilized the albumen print process, reflecting the technological and aesthetic standards of mid-to-late 19th-century photography.
History & Provenance
Originally part of a large collection of 'cartes de visite' and 'cabinet cards' amassed by collector Guy Tristram Little, the photograph was later bequeathed to the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) upon Little's death in 1953.
Context
Created during the heyday of 'cartes de visite' (1860s), this photograph reflects the Victorian public's fascination with collecting images of theatrical personalities, scenic views, and artworks, which were later supplanted by 'cabinet cards' and postcards.
Legacy
Now housed at the V&A, the photograph contributes to the museum's extensive Theatre Collections, initially founded on the theatrical collection of Mrs. Gabrielle Enthoven, for whom Guy Little served as solicitor and executor.
Artist & collection
Artist
A. Block made 19th-century photographs of London actors posed between painted flats. Their only known surviving image is Guy Little Theatrical Photograph. The print shows a performer in costume standing beside a cramped…
