Frédérick Lemaître
1876
Surrounded by a chaotic cast of theatrical characters, the great French actor Frédérick Lemaître stares out with a wild mane of hair and a famously intense expression in this 1876 illustration by Edmond Morin. The drawing captures the actor's legendary ability to transform into wildly different roles, from romantic heroes to gritty villains, all swirling around his central, brooding presence. Lemaître was a massive star of Paris's 'Boulevard du Crime,' known for a raw, realistic acting style that often shocked audiences and even inspired the creation of the famous villain character Pierrot.