[Enrico Caruso in Costume]

Enrico Caruso performed as Canio in Il Pagliacci the night this picture was made. As Canio, he played his signature role, a man betrayed by his beloved wife who must perform despite his pain. His ability to be both the entertainer and the tragedian defined his incomparable interpretation of Canio. He typically performed in tandem with Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni, in which he played the role of Turiddu. This postcard back lists the address of Via Velasca, the location of Caruso’s Milan estate.