Vanity Fair: Hydrophobia - Théobald Chartran

A 1889 Vanity Fair chromolithograph by Théobald Chartran depicting Louis Pasteur with his laboratory rabbits.

This chromolithograph, published in the British weekly magazine Vanity Fair on 26 January 1889, depicts the French scientist Louis Pasteur. The work is titled 'Hydrophobia', a reference to Pasteur's development of the rabies vaccine. Théobald Chartran, a French painter known for his portraiture, captures the scientist in a characteristic pose, holding two white rabbits used in his laboratory experiments. The print is a classic example of the 'Spy' or 'Ape' style of caricature that defined the Vanity Fair aesthetic, where subjects were rendered with a balance of gentle satire and recognisable likeness.

Chartran employs a muted colour palette, focusing on the dark tones of Pasteur's frock coat and the stark white of the rabbits. The composition is straightforward, placing the figure against a neutral, wash-like background that directs attention to the subject's expression and his work. The inclusion of the rabbits serves as a visual shorthand for his scientific contributions, specifically his work with attenuated viruses. The print was produced by Vincent Brooks, Day & Son, a firm responsible for the high-quality lithographic reproduction of many Vanity Fair portraits. This piece offers a glimpse into the late nineteenth-century perception of scientific figures, where the gravity of medical discovery was often presented through the lens of popular journalism and caricature. The 'T' signature in the lower right corner identifies Chartran's contribution to the magazine's extensive archive of social and professional portraits.