A silent, dramatic scene created by people posing as if frozen in time, often used in theater or art.
From French 'tableau' meaning 'picture' or 'painting,' diminutive of 'table.' It literally means 'a little board' or what you'd see in a picture frame.
Tableaux vivants (living pictures) were wildly popular entertainment in the Victorian era—before photography, seeing real people posed as famous paintings was how ordinary people experienced art, making the gallery come to life.
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