Theatre for the camera. Photographic passions of the imperial actor Hugo Thimig

Contributions to a History of Photography in Austria, volume 23

Edited by Monika Faber for Photoinstitut Bonartes, Vienna, and Walter Moser for the Photographic Collection of the Albertina, Vienna

Celebrity cult and photography already went hand in hand in the 19th century. Enterprising studios brought pictures of the admired onto the market, which were eagerly bought, given away, exchanged and hoarded by fans. Hugo Thimig recreated his Burgtheater roles in the studio for such photographs. However, photography also served the immensely popular actor to refine his expressive repertoire. To this end, he drew on historical theatre images from his large collection and posed for facial expression studies inspired by science and art history. – A comedian both professionally and privately, Thimig also staged himself and his family in front of his own camera. This resulted in absurdly funny scenic miniatures in which he sometimes appeared in several roles simultaneously.

Michael Ponstingl is a photo historian and curator at the Photoinstitut Bonartes, Vienna.