[Charlie Chaplin and Vaslav Nijinsky on the Set of Easy Street, December 1916]
Charlie Chaplin made Easy Street after signing a contract with the Mutual Film Corporation that allowed him a great deal of artistic freedom and a high salary, and in 1916 he made a number of short films in addition to Easy Street, such as The Cure and The Floorwalker. His international fame skyrocketed during this period, and he solidified the character of the Tramp that he had been developing since his earliest film performances. Nineteen sixteen was also the year that he met the Russian dancer Vaslav Nijinsky, who performed in Los Angeles during an American tour. In this photograph, Chaplin wears his policeman costume from Easy Street, and his assistant Charles Riesner (back left) is also in costume. The photograph, essentially a snapshot celebrity portrait, suggests the level of media attention lavished on both stars, and its unknown maker vividly conveyed the sense of occasion that characterized their meeting.
Artwork Details
- Title: [Charlie Chaplin and Vaslav Nijinsky on the Set of Easy Street, December 1916]
- Artist: Unknown
- Date: 1916
- Medium: Gelatin silver print
- Dimensions: 11.2 x 16.4 cm (4 7/16 x 6 7/16 in.)
- Classification: Photographs
- Credit Line: Ford Motor Company Collection, Gift of Ford Motor Company and John C. Waddell, 1987
- Object Number: 1987.1100.442
- Curatorial Department: Photographs
More Artwork
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.