This is a stunning and rare sepia-tone glamour portrait of a woman identified as Mme Le Gai, described on the reverse as a “Pantomimist” and “Vaudevillian.” Believed to date from around 1918, this photograph showcases an elegant, mysterious woman in elaborate costume—perhaps a stage or cabaret performer—gazing confidently into the camera. She wears a richly adorned hat with plumes, a beaded glove-like bracelet, and a delicately embroidered gown with satin and lace textures. Her theatrical pose and sensual expression make this image a prime example of early Hollywood pin-up photography, though its style is also heavily influenced by European cabaret traditions. The handwritten inscription on the back appears to read: “Mme Le Gai / Pantomimist / Vaudevillian.” There is some ambiguity—“Mme” could stand for Madame or Mademoiselle, and the surname may also be interpreted as Le Gai or Le Gaï. The elegant script suggests a deliberate stage name, possibly borrowed from the famed Parisian pantomime houses of the same name. “Le Gai” (French for “the merry” or “joyful”) was also used in naming French performance venues such as Le Théâtre Gai or variations like Le Gai Paris. This connection strengthens the possibility that the subject either performed in or took inspiration from these Parisian theatrical traditions. Though solid biographical confirmation of Mme Le Gai has not yet been found, the visual evidence, style, and inscription point to her role as a vaudeville-era pantomime performer, likely active in the United States or France around World War I. Her alluring presence and costume are consistent with the kind of studio portraiture used for performer promotion, possibly circulated as publicity or collectible pin-up material during the silent film and vaudeville boom. (SOLD)
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THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 