David Garrick in de rol van Abel Drugger, meneer Burton als 'Subtle' and John Palmer als 'Face' 1771

John Dixon created this print, "David Garrick in de rol van Abel Drugger, meneer Burton als 'Subtle' and John Palmer als 'Face'," during a time when theatre was a central social and cultural force, especially in London. Here, Dixon captures a scene from Ben Jonson’s play "The Alchemist." What’s fascinating is how Dixon immortalizes actors David Garrick, Mr. Burton, and John Palmer not just as themselves but intertwined with the characters they embody. It's a layering of identities which speaks volumes about the actor's craft. The print provides us a window into eighteenth-century society and its relationship to celebrity and performance. It prompts questions about the cultural values that elevated actors to such prominent status. Dixon doesn't just present a scene, but a cultural phenomenon where art, identity, and society converge. How did audiences view these actors, blurring the lines between their real selves and their stage personas? What does it tell us about the relationship between entertainment, identity, and society?