Victorien Sardou (French playwright, 1831-1908)
c. 1876
Medium
Woodburytype, from the periodical “Galerie Contemporaine Littéraire, Artistique” (1879), volume 8
Dimensions
Image, oval: 19.5 × 14.9 cm (7 11/16 × 5 7/8 in.); Mount: 34 × 26 cm (13 7/16 × 10 1/4 in.)
Classification
woodburytype
Department
Photography and Media
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
143395
Art Historical Context
This striking woodburytype portrait captures Victorien Sardou, the celebrated French playwright whose works shaped nineteenth-century theater from 1831 to 1908. Created around 1876 by photographer Ferdinand J. Mulnier, the oval image presents Sardou with quiet dignity, reflecting the era’s interest in documenting leading cultural figures for a broader public. The photograph appeared in the 1879 volume of the French periodical *Galerie Contemporaine Littéraire, Artistique*, a publication dedicated to showcasing contemporary writers, artists, and intellectuals. Mulnier’s use of the woodburytype...