Shakespeare's courtship before 1876

Editor: So, this is an albumen print titled "Shakespeare's Courtship" from before 1876 by Alfred Brewer. It's giving me a sort of staged, theatrical feel, like a scene plucked right out of a play, all muted tones and suggestive romance. What do you make of it? Curator: It’s an intriguing piece, isn't it? More a romantic Victorian imagining than a historical document, of course. I see a carefully constructed tableau, bathed in soft light. Brewer wants us to *feel* the moment, the hushed intimacy of a courtship in what we presume is Shakespeare's era. But consider the print itself—photography trying to capture…theater. Isn’t that delightful? It feels as though it’s yearning to be more than still. Do you think the photographic print flattens the scene? Editor: I think it *does* flatten the scene a bit, yes, maybe diluting that supposed 'intimacy'? Because the clothing of that time feels so formal and separate from our own time… Was it common to ‘reenact’ historical or imagined moments with photography back then? Curator: Precisely! This harks back to a popular trend: genre photography, especially tableaux vivants where folks recreated historical or literary scenes, or well-known paintings. It became all the rage as photography evolved, imagine the possibilities of staging a scene! Brewer wasn’t aiming for stark realism but for sentimental storytelling. Think about the narrative implicit in their posture, their gaze. This piece aims for heartstrings more than historical accuracy, wouldn't you say? It's less Shakespeare and more… Shakespeare fan-fiction. Editor: “Shakespeare fan-fiction”! I like that. That puts it in a new perspective for me, kind of less…imposing? Thank you! Curator: Absolutely! Considering artworks in relation to different creative activities gives art an exciting relevance. I now see it as both less, and much more. Thanks for sharing this perspective with me!