Mark Twain (1908)
Few American authors will ever match the status or successes of Mark Twain (1835 – 1910), formerly known as Samuel Clemens. Despite being mainly remembered for youthful classics like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Prince and the Pauper his harsh parodying of his era’s hypocrisy runs through all his works.
Twain is widely regarded as “America’s first celebrity.” Rarely spotted in anything but white suits, he kindly changed his wardrobe for this photograph. As described by the Los Angeles Times:
This picture was taken in 1908 and was one of the first likenesses to be in full color, known as a chromograph. Had Twain remained in his iconic white suit for the snap, the color would not have come through as well as the red gown. Alvin Langdon Coburn took this incredible photograph.
Mark Twain
