J. T. Wigney

J.T. Wigney spent his days dodging portrait gigs at a Sydney theater, where he snapped candid shots of actors between shows. He set up a tripod in the wings and caught performers mid-laugh, mid-sigh, or mid-curse, faces the public never saw on stage. His 1890s “Guy Little Theatrical Photograph” is the proof: a burlesque queen mid-bite into a sandwich, crumbs on her chin, eyes rolling like she’s just heard the worst joke in the world. If you’ve ever wanted to peek behind the velvet curtain, that’s your ticket in.