Artwork
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph is a photographic photography by Pau Audouard. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This photograph depicts Eleanora Duse, captured in a theatrical context, and is part of a broader collection of Victorian-era theatrical photographs.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is Eleanora Duse, a prominent figure in theatre, implying the photograph's purpose was to showcase her image for fans or collectors, reflecting the Victorian interest in theatrical personalities.
Technique & Style
Created using the albumen print process from a glass negative, the photograph is mounted on stiff card backing, characteristic of either 'cartes de visite' or 'cabinet cards', popular formats during the late 19th century.
History & Provenance
Originally part of Guy Tristram Little's collection, the photograph was later bequeathed to the V&A, having been removed from its backing and mounted in an album by Little, a collector with ties to the theatre community through his work with Mrs. Gabrielle Enthoven.
Context
Produced during the Victorian era when photography was a novel technology, such images catered to the public's growing interest in collecting portraits of theatrical figures, alongside other popular collectible themes.
Artist & collection
Artist
Pau Audouard spent his days behind a camera, not a paintbrush, snapping portraits in Havana’s late-1800s streets.
