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Dance in Art
Miss Katti Lanner (the ballet)
Unknown artist
- Dance:
- dance
- Collection:
- Prints depicting dance
- Source:
- nypl
- Rights:
- Public Domain
Katti Lanner was a significant figure in late-19th-century ballet, particularly as a choreographer and director in London, yet she is often overlooked in dance history. This contemporary caricature is evidence of her celebrity and cultural presence at the time of publication, and demonstrates how ballet dancers and makers were marketed and perceived by the general public through illustrated periodicals.
What you are looking at
A caricature portrait of a young woman identified as Miss Katti Lanner, shown as a bust-length figure against a plain background. She wears a dark, ornate dress with what appears to be lace or detailed patterwork at the shoulders and neckline, and a jeweled brooch or ornament at the throat. Her hair is styled in the fashion of the 1880s, parted and swept up at the sides. The artist has exaggerated her facial features in the caricaturist tradition—particularly the expression and proportions of the face—while her arms extend impossibly from the shoulders in elegant, gesturing poses that reference classical ballet positions. The drawing is rendered in black ink with fine cross-hatching for shading, and the signature appears lower left. The figure is presented as a theatrical portrait: elegant, recognizable as a specific person, but distorted for comic or satirical effect.
The dancing
The subject is shown frontally from roughly the bust, with both arms extended in balletic poses—the right arm curved upward and the left extended horizontally, both with delicate hand positions. The exaggerated arm placement and the theatrical poise of the figure suggest classical ballet training and carriage. The head is tilted slightly, and the facial expression combines portraiture with caricature distortion. There is no active weight transfer or footwork visible; this is a posed, formal presentation rather than a moment of movement.
The dance depicted
Katti Lanner was an Austrian dancer, choreographer, and ballet master active in the late 19th century, particularly known for work in London. This is a caricature portrait, not a depiction of dance in action, but the balletic arm positions and the theatrical styling of the figure make clear reference to her identity and profession as a classical ballet dancer and theatre personality. The exaggerated poses signal her status as a recognizable public figure of the stage.
How it was made
This is a pen-and-ink drawing or engraving, rendered with fine hatching and cross-hatching to create tone and shadow. The precise line work and the formal presentation suggest it was made for reproduction and publication. The style and technique indicate this was likely a commercial illustration, prepared for a periodical or theatrical publication. The delicate execution and portraiture tradition suggest a skilled illustrator rather than a casual sketch.
About this work
This is a caricature portrait of Katti Lanner, a prominent Austrian ballet dancer and choreographer of the 1880s, published in *The Entr'acte* (a theatrical periodical) on 31 December 1887. The work sits at the intersection of theatrical portraiture, dance history, and the Victorian caricature tradition. It captures not a moment of dance, but the public image of a significant figure in late-19th-century ballet, and demonstrates how dance personalities were represented and circulated in the popular press of the period.
The drawing is an artifact of theatre culture and celebrity: a witty, recognizable likeness intended for an audience familiar with Lanner's work and persona. It shows how dancers were mythologized and satirized in print media, and what aspects of their public identity—elegance, theatricality, physical training—were emphasized in visual representation.
How to look at it
Observe the tension between portraiture and caricature: the artist has captured recognizable facial features and contemporary dress styling, but wildly exaggerated the arm positions and the proportions of the head to achieve a comic effect. The balletic gestures are both a signature of Lanner's profession and a source of visual humor. Notice also the technical skill in the line work—the delicate hatching that creates the illusion of fabric and shadow, which would have reproduced well in the periodical's printing process. This is a work designed to be instantly readable to a theatre audience and printed in mass circulation.
The artist
The artist is not recorded in the catalogue. The style and signature suggest a professional theatrical illustrator or caricaturist working for London periodicals in the 1880s. The work was published in *The Entr'acte*, a weekly theatrical periodical, which employed skilled illustrators to create recognizable portraits and caricatures of performers for a theatregoing readership.
The period
This image dates to 1887, near the end of the Victorian era, when theatre caricature was a popular and respected art form. The late 19th century saw the rise of illustrated theatrical periodicals that fed public appetite for images of performers. Katti Lanner was active during the height of classical ballet's popularity in Europe, and her work as a choreographer and ballet mistress made her a public figure. The style of caricature here—exaggerated but recognizable, flattering but witty—reflects a tradition of theatrical portraiture that valued both likeness and satirical commentary.
Where it lives
This is a printed illustration from *The Entr'acte*, a London theatrical periodical, dated 31 December 1887. It comes from the New York Public Library's collection of prints depicting dance. The work is a page from a periodical, not a standalone fine art print, and reflects the commercial circulation of theatrical imagery in the Victorian press.
Dance in this work
Questions about this work
Who was Katti Lanner?
Katti Lanner (1829–1908) was an Austrian dancer, choreographer, and ballet mistress who became a significant figure in London theatre during the late 19th century. She choreographed ballets, directed dance at major London theatres, and was known for her contributions to classical ballet in Britain. She was well-known enough to be a recognizable public figure for the readers of *The Entr'acte*.
Is this a photograph or a drawing?
This is a pen-and-ink drawing or engraving, not a photograph. It was created specifically for publication in a theatrical periodical. The artist used fine hatching to create tone and shadow, and the work would have been reproduced by print.
What is *The Entr'acte*?
*The Entr'acte* was a weekly London periodical devoted to theatre, music, and the arts, popular in the late 19th century. It was known for its theatrical caricatures and illustrations of prominent performers, and was aimed at a theatregoing public eager for images and commentary on performers and productions.
Why are her arms in such odd positions?
The exaggerated arm poses reference classical ballet positions and are both a signature of her profession and a source of visual wit. The impossible extension of the arms from the shoulders is typical of caricature exaggeration, used here to emphasize her identity as a ballet performer while creating a humorous effect.
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