Mr. Henry Irving as Shylock before 1893

This black and white photograph, created by Lock & Whitfield before 1893, depicts the renowned English actor Henry Irving as Shylock from Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice." Irving's portrayal of Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, was groundbreaking in its time, breaking away from the stereotypical portrayal of Jews in theatre. The image captures Irving's dramatic intensity and conveys the character's complex motivations, making it a significant piece in the history of theatre photography.