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PH1746
Photographs: PH1746
Title
Nikolai Osipovich Massalitinov as the Private Bailiff
Subject
Date
c.1923
Dimensions
height: 14cm
width: 8.5cm
width: 8.5cm
Provenance
Presented by Michael Gaunt, September 2023.
Other number
E0146
This postcard depicts Nikolai Osipovich Massalitinov in the role of the Chastniy Pristav (Private Bailiff) in Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol's comedy of errors play 'The Government Inspector'.
Massalitinov joined the Moscow Art Theatre (MAT) in 1907, which had been formed nine years earlier 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. Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol’s ‘The Government Inspector’ was published in 1836 and performed by the Moscow Art Theatre in 1908.
Massalitinov's character, Chastniy Pristav, is an easily fooled Private Bailiff who assists the Postmaster in his day-to-day duties. Massalitinov is depicted standing full length and slightly facing the left. He wears light coloured trousers with a dark button up jacket, a sword hangs by his side and he holds a hat in his left hand. His right hand is clenched in a fist and his expression suggests anger.
The postcard was published by the theatre, film, literature and art magazine 'Life of Art'. The magazine was published weekly in Leningrad from 1923-1929 and issued by the Regional Department for Political Education. This postcard was likely reproduced for the magazine.
Massalitinov joined the Moscow Art Theatre (MAT) in 1907, which had been formed nine years earlier 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. Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol’s ‘The Government Inspector’ was published in 1836 and performed by the Moscow Art Theatre in 1908.
Massalitinov's character, Chastniy Pristav, is an easily fooled Private Bailiff who assists the Postmaster in his day-to-day duties. Massalitinov is depicted standing full length and slightly facing the left. He wears light coloured trousers with a dark button up jacket, a sword hangs by his side and he holds a hat in his left hand. His right hand is clenched in a fist and his expression suggests anger.
The postcard was published by the theatre, film, literature and art magazine 'Life of Art'. The magazine was published weekly in Leningrad from 1923-1929 and issued by the Regional Department for Political Education. This postcard was likely reproduced for the magazine.
