Digital Transgender Archive

Man de Wirth in drag. Photographic postcard, 190-.

Man de Wirth

Download the full-sized image of Man de Wirth in drag. Photographic postcard, 190-.

The item catalogued bears an autograph message from the subject on the verso giving his address as the Colosseum Theatre, Bremen and giving his future itinerary. Although biographical detail of de Wirth is scant, this photograph reveals a female impersonator with a highly contrived and dramatic appearance. The beautifully embroidered and sequinned gown is pulled in over a 'Merry Widow' corset to achieve the hour-glass figure then so desirable in a woman, the illusion further aided in this photograph by heavy re-touching

Part of James Gardiner Collection: photograph album labelled ‘Drag’.

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Item Information:

Identifier
w0892b23p
Collection
James Gardiner 20th Century Drag Postcards
Institution
Wellcome Library
Date Issued
1900 to 1909
Genre
Photographs
Prints
Topic(s)
Female impersonators
Resource Type
Still Image
Analog Format
1 photograph : photoprint ;
Rights
Copyright undetermined
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