PAULINE STARKE (ca. 1918) Portrait by Evans’ Studio

Hollywood, CA: Evans’ Studio, [ca. 1918]. Vintage original 9 1/2 x 7 1/2″ (23 x 19 cm.) black-and-white double weight glossy silver gelatin photo, about fine.

A very early portrait of this popular silent cinema actress taken at Evans’ Studio, Hollywood, as stamped on the verso.

Nelson Evans established a studio at 6039 Hollywood Boulevard in 1915. At the time, Hollywood studio photographers focused mainly on shooting movie still images of sets and scenes — actors and actresses were forced to find personal photographers to take portrait shots. This market niche was filled by professional photographers like Evans. Evans also did more traditional still photography for a number of prominent movie studios.

Evans introduced several innovations to the photography scene of Old Hollywood: he avoided using fancy props and rendered effects or backgrounds directly on photo negatives.