Painting

Image depicting the music-hall performer George H. Chirgwin (1854- 1922) in character as 'the White-Eyed Kaffir.' His diamond-shaped white eye make-up is said to have developed from the day he accidentally wiped his face when made up as a black-face minstrel. Chirgwin has inscribed the image with a line from a song or stage patter: 'And now I've left the old man I don't see my girl at night. She scarce can close her eyes because "her hair" doth curl so tight!'

Chirgwin is seen here holding his familiar stove-pipe hat that was part of his stage character.