Seeing Sarah Bernhardt

Seeing Sarah Bernhardt, published by the University of Illinois Press in 2015, emerged from Victoria Duckett’s extensive research into the intersection of nineteenth-century theatrical performance and the burgeoning medium of cinema. The work was conceived to challenge the traditional narrative that Bernhardt’s transition from stage to screen was a mere decline in artistic quality, instead framing her film work as a deliberate and sophisticated extension of her public persona.

Duckett designed the book as a visual and academic study, meticulously analyzing archival materials, photographs, and contemporary reviews to trace how Bernhardt navigated the constraints and opportunities of early film. The monograph was well-received within film and theater studies circles for its nuanced investigation of gender, celebrity, and the evolution of acting styles, providing a critical reassessment of how early media technologies captured the ephemeral nature of the legendary actress.