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PH1723
Photographs: PH1723
Title
Olga Knipper-Chekhova as Nastya
Subject
Date
1902
Dimensions
height: 13.8cm
width: 8.7cm
width: 8.7cm
Provenance
Presented by Michael Gaunt, September 2023.
Other number
E0146
This postcard depicts Olga Knipper-Chekhova in the role of Nastya in Maxim Gorky's play 'Na Dne', which translates to 'The Lower Depths' or 'On the Bottom'.
Knipper-Chekhova was an early member of the Moscow Art Theatre (MAT), which was formed in 1898. The actor Konstantin Stanislavski and his co-founder, the writer and drama teacher, Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko, wanted to break away from the state-run theatres, bring back high standards and professionalism in acting, and strive towards emotional truth and realism in their performances. Maxim Gorky was one of several contemporary writers that began an artistic partnership with the company. Gorky completed ‘The Lower Depths’ in 1902 and it was staged by MAT on 18 December 1902. It was the second of three plays by Gorky that the Theatre produced.
‘The Lower Depths’ follows a group of impoverished Russians living in a lodging house near the River Volga, and is a social commentary on Russia’s lower classes. Knipper-Chekhova plays a prostitute named Nastya.
Knipper-Chekhova is depicted standing in front of a brick wall backdrop. She wears a long-sleeved white shirt, long white skirt with black pattern, and a checked blanket lies across her right shoulder. Her left hand is on her hip and right hand holds a piece of paper and cups her chin.
The set was designed by Viktor Andreyevich Simov who was the principal scenographer for MAT between 1898-1912.
Knipper-Chekhova was an early member of the Moscow Art Theatre (MAT), which was formed in 1898. The actor Konstantin Stanislavski and his co-founder, the writer and drama teacher, Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko, wanted to break away from the state-run theatres, bring back high standards and professionalism in acting, and strive towards emotional truth and realism in their performances. Maxim Gorky was one of several contemporary writers that began an artistic partnership with the company. Gorky completed ‘The Lower Depths’ in 1902 and it was staged by MAT on 18 December 1902. It was the second of three plays by Gorky that the Theatre produced.
‘The Lower Depths’ follows a group of impoverished Russians living in a lodging house near the River Volga, and is a social commentary on Russia’s lower classes. Knipper-Chekhova plays a prostitute named Nastya.
Knipper-Chekhova is depicted standing in front of a brick wall backdrop. She wears a long-sleeved white shirt, long white skirt with black pattern, and a checked blanket lies across her right shoulder. Her left hand is on her hip and right hand holds a piece of paper and cups her chin.
The set was designed by Viktor Andreyevich Simov who was the principal scenographer for MAT between 1898-1912.
