Artwork
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph is a photographic photography by L. Haase & Co. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This photograph is titled Guy Little Theatrical Photograph. It was created by L. Haase & Co in the 19th century.
The photograph is of Franz Liszt. Photography was a new development during the Victorian era, and people would often have studio photographs taken to create 'cartes de visite' or 'cabinet cards'.
You can learn more about the photographer's work at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
This 19th-century photograph, titled 'Guy Little Theatrical Photograph', depicts Franz Liszt and was produced by L. Haase & Co. It is part of a collection formerly mounted in albums by Guy Tristram Little, later bequeathed to the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Subject & Meaning
The subject of the photograph is Franz Liszt, a prominent figure of the time, though the image does not capture him in a theatrical role but rather in a standard portrait format, reflecting the broader Victorian practice of collecting celebrity portraits on 'cartes de visite' and 'cabinet cards'.
Technique & Style
The photograph is an albumen print from a glass negative, characteristic of 'cartes de visite' and 'cabinet cards' popular during the Victorian era. Its production aligns with the technical standards of the time, featuring a straightforward, studio-based composition.
History & Provenance
Originally part of Guy Tristram Little's collection, the photograph was removed from its backing and mounted in an album before being bequeathed to the V&A. Little, a collector and solicitor, played a role in shaping the V&A's Theatre Collections through his association with Mrs. Gabrielle Enthoven.
Context
Created during the rise of photography in the Victorian era, this piece reflects the period's fascination with the new medium. 'Cartes de visite' (patented 1854) and later 'cabinet cards' facilitated the mass production and collection of portraits, including those of celebrities like Liszt.
Artist & collection
Artist
L. Haase & Co ran a Prague photo studio where actors posed in costume, a century before Instagram filters. Their 19th-century “Guy Little Theatrical Photograph” shows a dancer mid-leap, skirt flaring like a bell, so…
