Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by Nadar. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This hand‑tinted print presents the celebrated French actress Sarah Bernhardt (1844‑1923) in the role of Iseyl.
About this work
Overview
This hand‑tinted print presents the celebrated French actress Sarah Bernhardt (1844‑1923) in the role of Iseyl. Executed by the photographer Nadar toward the end of the nineteenth century, the image combines photographic realism with applied colour, offering a vivid representation of a theatrical persona that was widely recognized in its time.
Subject & Meaning
Bernhardt, renowned for her dramatic intensity, is depicted in costume as Iseyl, a character drawn from contemporary stage productions. The portrait emphasizes her theatrical identity, highlighting the interplay between performer and role, and reflects the era’s fascination with celebrity portraiture that captured both likeness and artistic persona.
Technique & Style
The original photographic image was produced by Nadar, a leading figure in early photography, and subsequently enhanced by hand‑tinting. This manual application of pigment adds selective colour to the monochrome base, a common practice in the 1800s to simulate natural tones and to increase the visual appeal of portrait prints.
History & Provenance
Created in the late 1800s, the print entered the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, where it remains part of the museum’s holdings on photographic portraiture. Its acquisition reflects the institution’s commitment to preserving examples of early photographic techniques and the cultural impact of theatrical figures like Bernhardt.
Artist & collection
Artist
French photographer who made sharp, era-defining portraits in the 1850s–70s. You’ll meet Man on a Horse from the 1860s, a sitter caught mid-gallop against Parisian skies, and the 1856 portrait of composer Gioachino…
