PuppetVision Blog pointed out this stunning video by Richard Teschner. There are a couple of things you need to understand before watching this short film. It was filmed in 1916, so it is very early cinema. It is also not stop-motion. Both of those things are cool. What is significant though is that Richard Teschner is credited with adapting Javanese rod puppetry for the western world. Before him, you saw marionettes and hand puppets but nothing else. His work was quite revolutionary. I’ve seen photos of his puppets for ages and have been captivated by the sheer artistry of them. This film is the first time I have ever seen them in motion. I would love to see a better print, because even in this the delicacy of movement is beautiful. Despite the lack of dialog, you can feel Joseph’s tenderness to Mary as fully as if he were delivering monologues. It is easy, oh so easy, to see why Teschner’s work changed everything for western puppetry.
That’s 1916.
1916.
Are you kidding me? That is, quite frankly, stunning, amazing, and awesome. Consider me officially bowled over by the man’s genius and artistry. Clearly, a worthy choice for idolization and aspiring to.
Actually, you know, I should back up and say that I was reading a German language site to get the creation date. It is possible that he made the show in 1916 and filmed it later. But I don’t think it could have been that much later.
Exquisite. Beauiful. It was especially interesting to see the quite symbol of the cross in some of the early scenes. Thank you Mary,for this special exposition.
correction, “quiet” symbol….meaning gentle hint, subtile premonition.