Snapshots of the Past

[Portrait of W. Somerset Maugham] – Historic Photograph Print

[Portrait of W. Somerset Maugham], 1934 May 26. — historic photograph
[Portrait of W. Somerset Maugham], 1934 May 26.. Historic photograph from the Historic Print Archive collection.

(Originally scanned by the Library of Congress. Each image is professionally and digitally cleaned of artifacts such as color bars and extra borders prior to printing.)

Description

This historic photograph of [Portrait of W. Somerset Maugham] brings a moment of history to your wall. Sourced directly from the Library of Congress, it represents an authentic piece of documented history.

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[Portrait of W. Somerset Maugham]

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Taken on May 26, 1934, this gelatin silver print shows the British novelist and playwright W. Somerset Maugham, then in his sixties and one of the best-known writers in English, known for both stage comedies and fiction. Carl Van Vechten, an American writer and photographer, made the portrait during the 1930s, when he photographed many novelists, actors, dancers, and other figures from the literary and performing worlds. The print came to the Library of Congress as a gift from Van Vechten's estate in 1966, and it remains part of a major record of interwar celebrity portraiture.

Created / published1934 May 26.
Medium1 photographic print : gelatin silver.
GenrePortrait photographs.
NotesTitle derived from information on verso of photographic print. Van Vechten number: XXI F 17. Also available on microfilm. Gift; Carl Van Vechten Estate; 1966. Forms part of: Portrait photographs of celebrities, a LOT which in turn forms part of the Carl Van Vechten photograph collection (Library of Congress).
SubjectsMaugham, W. Somerset (William Somerset),--1874-1965.
SourceLibrary of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
Original scan1,211 × 1,536 px · prints to 4 × 5 in at 300 dpi
ReferenceAMZ-SOTP-HPA-120015

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