Portrait de Charles Le Bargy (1858-1936), sociétaire de la Comédie-Française, en costume de scène

Théobald Chartran's portrait of Charles Le Bargy (1858–1936) in stage costume (1887) is part of his systematic documentation of the Comédie-Française's leading performers. Le Bargy was one of the most celebrated French actors of the Belle Époque, known for the elegance and precision of his performances in classical and contemporary plays; he was later a pioneer of early French cinema. Painted early in his career at the Comédie-Française — he became a sociétaire in 1887, the same year as this portrait — Chartran captures him in the theatrical persona that was making his reputation. The work is in the Musée Carnavalet.

The theatrical portrait combines the conventions of formal portraiture with the expressive requirements of theatrical documentation, rendering Le Bargy in the bearing and costume of a specific role. Chartran's handling is confident and sympathetic, balancing physical likeness with performative persona.