About the work

curationist logoCurationist Object Description
A cabinet card featuring Oscar Wilde seated on an upholstered chair wearing a velvet jacket and short pants. Wilde holds a book in one hand while the other holds his tilted head. The image was shot by Napoleon Sarony during Wilde’s United States tour in 1882.

Sarony shot and published over 20 photographs of Wilde between 1882 and 1883. Sarony's main subjects were the New York theater scene and its actors. He distributed thousands of these images as cabinet cards, marketing productions and creatives.

This particular card of Wilde was later reproduced by another card company, which led to a copyright lawsuit. Sarony won and the case is still considered a major win for intellectual property rights. It also further established photography as a respected art form.

Metropolitan Museum of Art Object Description

Photograph

Work details

"--" = no data available
= Curationist added metadata(Learn more)

All Works in Curationist’s archives can be reproduced and used freely. How to attribute this Work:

.

Help us to improve this content!

Let our archivists know if you have something to add.

Save this work.

Start an account to add this work to your personal curated collection.

masonry card

We're just getting started!

Sign Up to receive updates.

Curationist connects people to cultural knowledge from all over the world.