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Family asleep on sand

Photograph
ca. 1900 (photographed)
Artist/Maker
Pitcairn-Knowles, Andrew (photographer)
Place of origin
Belgium (photographed)

Andrew Pitcairn-Knowles was a pioneer photographic journalist who published his work in the new illustrated magazines of the 1890s and early 20th century. He specialised in sports and genre subjects in mainland Europe. The viewpoint Pitcairn-Knowles choose when taking this photograph makes everyday life on the beach seem intriguingly enigmatic. This photograph is difficult to read. Apparently taking a nap on the sand, the figures are hard to distinguish among the jumble of clothes.


Object details

Category
Photographs
Object type
Photograph
Titles
  • Family asleep on sand (generic title)
  • Auf den pier (series title)
Materials and techniques
Gelatin-silver print
Brief description
'Family asleep on sand', photograph by Andrew Pitcairn-Knowles, Belgium, ca. 1900.
Physical description
This photograph shows a family asleep on the sand
Dimensions
  • Height: 11.9cm
  • Width: 16.4cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • '03/3' (Donor's reference, verso, pencil. Vintage prints numbered ie. 01/3 = '0' for 'original', envelope 1, print number 3)
  • '0144645' (Pencil, verso. Seven digit number = digital reference number as made by Topham Picture Library)
Gallery label
The viewpoint Pitcairn-Knowles choose when taking these photographs makes everyday life on the beach seem intriguingly enigmatic. The top photograph raises questions: what is the man in the doorway of the hut doing? Can the man to his right see something we can't? The bottom photograph is equally difficult to read. Apparently taking a nap on the sand, the figures are hard to distinguish among the jumble of clothes. Désiré Blankenberge, Belgium About 1900 Museum no. E.3472-2004 A family asleep on the sand Belgium About 1900 Museum no. E.3279-2004
Credit line
Purchased through the Cecil Beaton Royalties Fund
Object history
Pitcairn-Knowles Archive purchased from Andrew Pitcairn-Knowles' grandson Richard Pitcairn-Knowles.
Summary
Andrew Pitcairn-Knowles was a pioneer photographic journalist who published his work in the new illustrated magazines of the 1890s and early 20th century. He specialised in sports and genre subjects in mainland Europe. The viewpoint Pitcairn-Knowles choose when taking this photograph makes everyday life on the beach seem intriguingly enigmatic. This photograph is difficult to read. Apparently taking a nap on the sand, the figures are hard to distinguish among the jumble of clothes.
Bibliographic reference
Pitcairn-Knowles, Richard.The Edwardian eye of Andrew Pitcairn-Knowles 1871-1956. Sussex: The Book Guild Ltd, 2000.
Other numbers
  • 03/3 - Donor's reference
  • 0144645 - Topham Picture Library reference number
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.3279-2004

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Record createdJuly 20, 2004
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O101792/family-asleep-on-sand-photograph-pitcairn-knowles-andrew/
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