Tuesday 1 March 2011

E.O.HOPPE at the NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

Scooted in to town on my bike in the biting wind today to meet my old friend Karina and go see Bridget Riley at the National Gallery.  Was a bit underwhelmed by the lack of work on show, so we strolled round to the National Portrait Gallery.  Had one of those lovely unexpected moments when you stumble upon something that is so brilliant you're feel really chuffed to have seen it. 

E.O.Hoppe - ashamed to say I've never heard of this guy but he was what I suppose could be called the first celebrity photographer which doesn't sound very good I know.  But this is wonderful stuff.  Photos from the 1930s of various actresses, dancers, poets etc from that period where great, but what really took my interest where the photos in the section called "Street".  Fascinated by Britain's growing cultural diversity, Hoppe travelled throughout London and beyond, photographing people of different ethnic origins and a variety of occupations.  It's a fascinating look in on the lives of the normal London population between the wars.  Loved this show.  It's well worth a visit.


Oh yes, and just to add a cherry on the top of the cake, the 4th plinth in Trafalgar Square (in front of the National Gallery to those non-Londoners) has finally got something funny and appropriate on it.

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