Tableaux Vivants of the Russian Empire

The practice of tableaux vivants, or “living pictures,” involves arranging people and objects into a motionless scene, often re-creating a work of art. After emerging in France, this dramatic art form quickly burst national boundaries, becoming a popular pastime. It took strong root in Russia toward the end of the eighteenth century, traversing the social and political scene, from its debut as an aristocratic parlor game to common street performance; from the inner circles of the tsarist court to agitprop theater and cinema; and from political meetings to public schools and city parades.

In this book, the first English-language history of tableaux vivants in Russia, Yelena Severina traces the development of this art form from the late eighteenth into the early twentieth century. She links its introduction, rise, influence on later entertainments like photography and film, and ultimate decline to concomitant changes in Russian society, politics, and technology, arguing that while this art form may now be nearly forgotten, it should be remembered and studied for its critical role in Imperial Russian culture.