File:Postcard of black female and male impersonators and cross-dressing.png

English: Postcard of female and male impersonators and transvestites, from the Cornell University Library's Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, photograph taken in 1902. This photo was taken to promote the New Circus show "Joyeux Nègres", filmed by Louis Lumière.

Apparently a promotional photo for the Nouveau Cirque show "Joyeux Nègres", which was filmed by Louis Lumière. Black couple with one man (Charles Gregory) dressed in formal wear and one dressed in a flouncy gown, necklace and extravagant feathered hat (but no wig). The image introduces further confusion through swapping of highly gendered accessories: The man dressed as a man holds the woman’s fan, and the man dressed as a woman holds the man’s top hat. An exceptionally rare postcard—the only example I have documented of the genre representing black performers. Publisher’s monogram on recto. Circular rubber-stamp impression in pink ink on verso: “CARTES POSTALES DOCUMENTAIRES / 19___ / Collection Louis HESSENBRUCH / No____”. The 19 is followed by the numerals 55 written in black ink." Cite As:

Postcards of female and male impersonators and cross-dressing, #7778. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.