Discover over 150 captivating works by trailblazing British photographer Yevonde, including 25 never-before-seen images, at the National Portrait Gallery’s grand reopening exhibition.
Above: Joan Maude by Yevonde (1932), given by the photographer, 1971 © National Portrait Gallery, London
When the National Portrait Gallery doors reopen on June 22nd, visitors will be greeted by a stunning collection of over 150 works by Yevonde, the trailblazing British photographer who revolutionised colour photography in the 1930s. The exhibition, Yevonde: Life and Colour, will run from June 22nd to October 15th, 2023, and is supported by the Chanel Culture Fund.
More than 25 newly discovered photographs by Yevonde will be unveiled for the first time, showcasing her vibrant portraits of some of the most prominent figures of her era, such as George Bernard Shaw, Vivien Leigh, John Gielgud, and Princess Alexandra. In addition to her celebrated portraits, the exhibition will highlight Yevonde’s commercial work and still-life photography.
Mask (Rosemary Chance) by Yevonde (1938, printed 2022-3), purchased with support from the Portrait Fund, 2021 © National Portrait Gallery, London
Mask (Rosemary Chance) by Yevonde (1938, printed 2022-3), purchased with support from the Portrait Fund, 2021 © National Portrait Gallery, London
Self-Portrait with Vivex One-Shot Camera by Yevonde (1937), purchased with support from the Portrait Fund, 2021 © National Portrait Gallery
Yevonde’s innovative spirit emerged as a response to the growing independence of women after the First World War, with photography offering her newfound freedom. She experimented with solarisation and the Vivex colour process, positioning herself as a pioneer in British portrait photography.
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The National Portrait Gallery acquired Yevonde’s tri-colour separation negative archive in 2021 through funding from The Portrait Fund. Thanks to extensive research, cataloguing, and digitisation efforts financed by Chanel Culture Fund, several remarkable discoveries have been made, offering a fresh perspective on Yevonde’s range of subjects and sitters, from royals and writers to debutantes and film stars.
John Gielgud as Richard II in Richard of Bordeaux by Yevonde (1933), given by the photographer, 1971 © National Portrait Gallery, London
One notable piece is the captivating colour portrait of socialite Margaret Sweeny, one of the most photographed women in the 1930s. Sweeny later gained infamy as the Duchess of Argyll during her high-profile divorce in 1963, an event dramatised in the 2021 BBC series A Very British Scandal, with Claire Foy portraying Sweeny. Another exhibition highlight is a newly printed colour portrait of Surrealist patron and poet Edward James from 1933, which graced the cover of his 1938 poetry collection The Bones of My Hand.
The exhibition will delve into Yevonde’s life and career, exploring her self-portraiture and autobiography within the context of the flourishing modernist photography movement. A previously unseen self-portrait in vivid Vivex tricolour from 1937 will be displayed, showcasing Yevonde alongside her camera and using Herbert Read’s 1933 art survey Art Now as a prop.
Margaret Sweeny (Whigham, later Duchess of Argyll) 1 by Yevonde (1938), purchased with support from the Portrait Fund, 2021 © National Portrait Gallery, London
Edward James by Yevonde (1933), purchased with support from the Portrait Fund, 2021 © National Portrait Gallery, London
Dorothy Gisborne (Pratt) as Psyche by Yevonde (1935), purchased with support from the Portrait Fund, 2021 © National Portrait Gallery, London
Lady Dorothy Warrender as Ceres by Yevonde (1935), given by the photographer, 1971 © National Portrait Gallery, London
Yevonde’s work, which frequently appeared in leading society and fashion magazines like Tatler and Sketch, documented the growing independence of women and the shifting landscape of fashion and leisure. This exhibition contributes to the National Portrait Gallery’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the representation of women in portraiture, particularly in the 20th and 21st centuries.
In addition to Yevonde: Life and Colour, the Gallery’s reopening will feature 48% of post-1900 portraits of women. Over 200 pictures of women made after 1900 and over 100 portraits of women made after 1900 will be on display. To further celebrate this momentous occasion, the National Portrait Gallery offers a new £5 ticket for visitors aged 30 and under for the entire Summer 2023 season.
