Dominique Blanchar, coulisses de l’Athénée pour L’École des femmes

Photography,1946210 x 305 mm

LARGE SILVER PRINT FROM THE PERIOD
Photographer's stamp

400 

1 in stock

Description

LARGE SILVER PRINT FROM THE PERIOD.

Portrait of Dominique Blanchar taken by Brassaï backstage at the Théâtre de l'Athénée during preparations for the show. L'École des femmes.
Photographer's stamp on the back: "BRASSAÏ / 61, rue du Faubrd St-Jacques / PARIS XIVe / TELEPH : PORT-ROYAL 23-41".

In 1936, Louis Jouvet, director of the Théâtre de l'Athénée, created one of the first modern adaptations of The School for Wives. Although he had been planning to stage Molière's play for nearly 14 years, Jouvet was stymied by the problem of scenery. Christian Bérard stepped in and, in addition to designing costumes in a new style, designed a mobile mechanical set that would divide the stage space into two different areas.
Initially Madeleine Ozeray played the lead role. But in 1946, Louis Jouvet spotted Dominique, known as "Minou" Blanchar, and gave her the role of Agnès. She played the role until the death of the director (who continued to play Arnolphe) in August 1951.
With 675 performances between 1936 and 1951, the production quickly achieved mythical status. In 2001-2003, the Théâtre de l'Athénée commissioned Jacques Lasalle to direct a tribute production of The School for Wives using Bérard's decor.

1946.210 x 305 mm,

Silver print from the period.

Bio

Dominique Blanchar

(Paris: 2 June 1927 - Paris: 19 November 2018)

See The Works

Bio

Brassaï

Gyula Halász

(Brassó: 9 September 1896 - Beaulieu-sur-Mer: 8 July 1984)

See The Works