ALLAN, Maud

Inscribed Photograph

Gravure photograph. Approximately 6" x 8.5". Fine. Embossed mark of the photographer "Studio Gircomelli, Venezia." Boldly Inscribed by the subject in purple ink in the upper lefthand corner: "Kindest greetings to P.K. Thomajan from Maud Allan." Additionally Signed by Allan in pencil on the verso, and stamped: "Maud Allan, noted interpretative dancer with the Stony Point Ensemble." In the photograph, the diaphanously clad Allan strikes a Pre-Raphaelite pose. Allan was a Canadian-born dancer, choreographer and actress, whose life and exotic performances were tinged with scandal, from her authoring of an illustrated sex guide for women in 1900, simulated sex acts in her dancing (take that Madonna!), to a spectacular lawsuit where she was accused of various sins against God and man including lesbianism (true) and necrophilia (the secret apparently died with her, but here's hoping). Scarce and attractive.

[BTC #296512]