Chinese Acrobat Dwarf Midget Martial Arts Side Show Circus Real Photo Postcard
The subject of this postcard is an East Asian performer of short stature, identifiable by his traditional attire and queue hairstyle. Individuals with dwarfism were common figures in global entertainment during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, participating in circuses, sideshows, and variety acts where physical differences were often highlighted. His dynamic stance suggests a theatrical or martial arts presentation.
This portrait captures the era's complex relationship with physical difference, where performers like the subject often found both celebrity and exploitation within the entertainment industry. The studio setting, with its painted backdrop, was a popular photographic technique of the period, creating an idealized or exotic environment for the sitter. The distinctive queue dates the image to a period prior to or immediately following the 1911 Xinhai Revolution, when the Manchu hairstyle was widely abandoned in China.
This portrait captures the era's complex relationship with physical difference, where performers like the subject often found both celebrity and exploitation within the entertainment industry. The studio setting, with its painted backdrop, was a popular photographic technique of the period, creating an idealized or exotic environment for the sitter. The distinctive queue dates the image to a period prior to or immediately following the 1911 Xinhai Revolution, when the Manchu hairstyle was widely abandoned in China.
