Artwork
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph is a photographic photography by Window & Bridge. It dates from 1959 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more of these early theater photos.
This is a vintage photo of actress Katherine Hickson from 1959. It comes from a time when photos were new and exciting, especially for performers.
Most actors had studio shots made on stiff cards with their names printed below. These were called “cartes de visite” at first, then later “cabinet cards.” Both were albumen prints from glass negatives.
Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more of these early theater photos.
Overview
This photograph depicts actress Katherine Hickson in a theatrical context, part of a collection highlighting Victorian-era theatrical portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
Katherine Hickson, the subject, was an actress of her time, and the photograph exemplifies the practice of actors commissioning studio portraits for circulation among fans and patrons.
Technique & Style
The image is an albumen print from a glass negative, mounted on stiff card backing, characteristic of 'cartes de visite' and later 'cabinet cards', popular formats for photographic portraiture during the 19th century.
History & Provenance
Originally part of Guy Tristram Little's collection, the photograph was bequeathed to the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), where it forms part of the Theatre Collections, initially established from Mrs. Gabrielle Enthoven's theatrical archive.
Artist & collection
Artist
Black-and-white photographs of theater stages in the late 1950s fill this artist’s small body of work.
