Portrait of Bothwell Browne

Though cross-dressing vaudevillians were fairly common in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, dancer Bothwell Browne (1877-1947) broke from a tradition of broadly humorous bawdy or vulgar impersonations in favor of work that explored a more nuanced view of gender. Famous for playing characters such as Cleopatra, Browne often drew from an Eastern tradition he imagined as sensual and feminine. Browne is not dressed in women's clothing in Orval Hixon's portrait, but his sinuous pose and draped costume certainly challenged conventions of American masculinity. Some audiences found Browne's style discomforting, and while he gained great fame on the stage, he found little success in the era's comic films.
Portrait of Bothwell Browne
Portrait of Bothwell Browne
Inventory
Collection Number
17659
Building
Current Location
Storage Room 303
Floor
Lower Level/Vault
Description
Details
The image seen here is a sepia-toned photograph of post-silent era screen star, Bothwell Browne.
Artist
Artist Dates
1884 -1982
Artist Nationality
American
Framed
Yes
Width
1 inch
Height
31 inches
Length
25 inches
Object Type
Permissions
Reproduce the Work in Library publications/publicity, including film or videotape
Yes
Reproduce
Library has Photography Rights
Yes
Photograph
Permit the general public to photograph the work
Yes
Slides/Video