Antique Melodramatic Shakespearean Actor Portraits
Atlas Obscura Just posted a feature on “gloriously melodramatic” Shakespearean actor portraits dating back over a Century ago.
Studio portraits were self-promotional tools which often depicted actors in a dramatic pose, against a backdrop of scenery. This may be my favorite I’ve seen (tied with the one above):
While some of them are humorous, they do serve the purpose of demonstrating an actor is capable of the exaggerated expressions necessary to convey emotion from a stage (or grainy film).
The male character portraits seem more entertainingly dramatic, but you can see some ladies over at Atlas Obscura too.
April 29, 2016 at 7:52 pm
Have sword. Will kill.
Or will I?
April 30, 2016 at 9:40 pm
Haha…excellent caption.