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PH1742
Photographs: PH1742
Title
Vasily Vasilyevich Luzhsky as Repetilov
Subject
Artist
Date
1906
Dimensions
height: 14cm
width: 8.5cm
width: 8.5cm
Provenance
Presented by Michael Gaunt, September 2023.
Other number
E0146
This postcard depicts Vasily Vasilyevich Luzhsky in the role of Repetilov in Alexander Griboyedov's play 'Woe from Wit' or 'Wit's End'.
Luzhsky 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. 'Woe from Wit' was originally written in 1823 in rhymed verse, as a comedy of manners and a satire on Moscow’s aristocratic society. It was published in 1833, four years after Alexander Griboyedov’s death in 1829. The Moscow Art Theatre staged the play in 1906.
Repetilov's character is an Anglomaniac who is a member of an exclusive club in Moscow called the 'English Club'. He likes to drink and is very talkative; he admires the personality and wit of the main character Chatsky, and often repeats phrases of those around him. Luzhsky is dressed in a black smart suit with a white waistcoat and cravat. He holds a black top hat in his hands and sits on a chair covered with a fur pelt. A pair of fur lined boots lie scattered on the floor, his hair is dishevelled, and he looks at the camera with a humorous smirk.
The photo taken by Karl Fischer, a prominent German-born Russian photographer who was the official photographer for Imperial Theatres between 1892-1915.
Luzhsky 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. 'Woe from Wit' was originally written in 1823 in rhymed verse, as a comedy of manners and a satire on Moscow’s aristocratic society. It was published in 1833, four years after Alexander Griboyedov’s death in 1829. The Moscow Art Theatre staged the play in 1906.
Repetilov's character is an Anglomaniac who is a member of an exclusive club in Moscow called the 'English Club'. He likes to drink and is very talkative; he admires the personality and wit of the main character Chatsky, and often repeats phrases of those around him. Luzhsky is dressed in a black smart suit with a white waistcoat and cravat. He holds a black top hat in his hands and sits on a chair covered with a fur pelt. A pair of fur lined boots lie scattered on the floor, his hair is dishevelled, and he looks at the camera with a humorous smirk.
The photo taken by Karl Fischer, a prominent German-born Russian photographer who was the official photographer for Imperial Theatres between 1892-1915.
