Artwork
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph is a photographic photography by the Impressionist artist B. J. Falk. It dates from 1893 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This 1893 photograph, taken by B.
About this work
This photograph is titled Guy Little Theatrical Photograph. It was taken by B. J. Falk in 1893.
The photograph shows Giulia Ravogli as Ortrud in Lohengrin. Photography was a new development back then, and actors often had studio photos taken for cartes de visite or cabinet cards.
You can learn more about the movement, Realism, to understand the context of this photograph.
Overview
This 1893 photograph, taken by B. J. Falk, is part of a collection bequeathed to the V&A by Guy Tristram Little. It depicts Giulia Ravogli as Ortrud in Lohengrin.
Subject & Meaning
The photograph shows Giulia Ravogli in character as Ortrud, a role in Richard Wagner's opera Lohengrin. The image captures the actress in theatrical costume.
Technique & Style
The photograph is an example of a 'cabinet card', a format that superseded the earlier 'carte de visite' in popularity during the late 19th century. Both formats were albumen prints made from glass negatives and mounted on card.
History & Provenance
Guy Tristram Little, a collector and solicitor, assembled a large collection of photographs, including this image, which he later bequeathed to the V&A in 1953.
Artist & collection
Artist
B. J. Falk had a knack for capturing the electric buzz of New York’s theater scene. He spent his nights backstage, turning actors’ fleeting expressions—half-lit between gas lamps and greasepaint—into photographs that…
