Artwork
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph is a photographic photography by Joseph W. Gehrig. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This photograph is a late 19th-century portrait of actress Agnes Huntington.
About this work
Overview
This photograph is a late 19th-century portrait of actress Agnes Huntington. It is an example of a 'cabinet card', a type of photograph mounted on stiff card, commonly used for publicity by actors and actresses.
Technique & Style
The photograph is an albumen print made from a glass negative, a typical process for 'cabinet cards' and earlier 'cartes de visite'. These formats were popular for portrait photography during the Victorian era.
History & Provenance
The photograph was part of a large collection assembled by Guy Tristram Little, a collector and solicitor who bequeathed it to the Victoria and Albert Museum. Little was also involved in the management of Mrs. Gabrielle Enthoven's theatrical collection, which formed the basis of the V&A's Theatre Collections.
Artist & collection
Artist
Joseph W. Gehrig spent his days lugging glass plates through New York’s Theater District, chasing the perfect pose. He’d crouch behind the curtain just before a matinee, snapping actors mid-laugh or mid-frown before the…
