Theodore Barrière
c. 1853/73
Medium
Woodburytype, from the periodical “Galerie Contemporaine Littéraire, Artistique” (1878), volume 5
Dimensions
Image, oval: 14.1 × 10.1 cm (5 9/16 × 4 in.); Paper: 19.5 × 14.8 cm (7 11/16 × 5 7/8 in.); Mount: 34.1 × 25.8 cm (13 7/16 × 10 3/16 in.)
Classification
woodburytype
Department
Photography and Media
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
144596
Art Historical Context
This intimate portrait, *Théodore Barrière captures the French playwright and librettist by Nadar (Gaspard Félix Tournachon a pioneering 19th-century photographer renowned for his vivid depictions of Parisian intellectuals, artists, and bohemians. Taken around 1853–73, the image reflects Nadar's signature style: unflinching realism combined with psychological insight, often achieved in his balloon-equipped studio or on location. Barrière, known for collaborations with Offenbach on operettas like *La Belle Hélène*, embodies the vibrant cultural scene of Second Empire France. Printed as a Woodb...