Careful. That’s 1824. A model of the Theater an der Wien. The paint contains arsenic.
See how he stood. Left foot turned out. Sole worn thin on the inside—that’s anxiety. Heel crushed on the right—that’s confidence, forced. A Viennese actor from the Burgtheater, circa 1888. He played Othello in these. He was booed on opening night. Then cheered. Then he died three weeks later. Pneumonia. The boots stayed. theatermuseum wien