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Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information

Bonhams to Offer Photographs of Women’s Pub Outings in 1950s London

Fascinating photographs of London Women’s Pub Outings in Battersea and Clapham taken by Scottish photographer Grace Robertson in the 1950s are being sold at Bonhams, New Bond Street, as part of its sale of Photographs on 20 May 2010.

The four images follow a group of women on a series of pub outings laughing, dancing, forming a conga line and going on a theme park ride. Robertson commented on the experience of photographing these women: “I can’t recall ever having been present at a more high-spirited gathering of like-minded people who, for a few hours, gave themselves utterly to the enjoyment of the moment.”

The photographs, which were printed in the British photojournalism publication Picture Post, are expected to fetch £500 – 800 each.

The sale features 18 important examples of mid-20th century photojournalism in total, including works by Thurston Hopkins such as La Dolce Vita, Knightsbridge, 1950 (estimate £1,000 – 1,500) and Tango In The East End, London, 1954 (£700 – 900). Two pictures from Wolfgang Suschitzky’s famous Charing Cross series, Charing Cross Road, London, 1937 and Charing Cross Road from No. 84, London, 1937 are expected to fetch £600 – 800 and £700 – 900 respectively.

Other key photojournalists of this generation to feature in the sale include Bert Hardy, John Humphrey Spender and Bill Brandt.

www.bonhams.com/photography

Image: Lot No: 18
Thurston Hopkins (British, born 1913)
La Dolce Vita, Knightsbridge, London, 1950
Gelatin silver print, signed, titled and dated in pencil on the reverse. The photographer’s credit stamp also on the reverse. Printed later.
Paper 40.5 x 50.5cm (16 x 19 7/8in), image 35.4 x 45.4cm (14 x 17 7/8in).