Sarah Bernhardt
15 June until 16 September 2007
The Art of High Drama
An exhibition about the first international super
star. In the course of an astonishing career that spanned sixty
years the 'divine Sarah' became the West's leading tragedienne. Her
name became synonymous with acting and continued to cast a spell on
players and audiences throughout the world long after her death in
1923. Bernhardt, born five years after the invention of
photography, pioneered modern methods to publicise her image. She
was the first stage actress to appear in films.
Over 150 spectacular and rarely displayed objects bring her life,
fame and theatrical personality into focus, as well as the fashion,
style and politics of the fin de siècle. Besides paintings, photos,
clothes and Art Nouveau theatre posters, the show presents personal
possessions, a recording of her voice and fragments of films in
which she appeared.
Sarah Bernhardt: The Art of High Drama is based on an
exhibition organized by The Jewish Museum, New York - thanks to a
special collaboration with the Bibliothèque nationale de
France.
