The poodle, after breaking the cigar-box, making sure of his prey; Ratodrome
- Object:
- Date:
early 20th century (photographed)
- Artist/Maker:
Pitcairn-Knowles, Andrew, born 1871 - died 1956 (photographer)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Credit Line:
Purchased through the Cecil Beaton Fund
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
Prints & Drawings Study Room, level H, case X, shelf 980, box D
- Image unavailable
Andrew Pitcairn-Knowles (born Rotterdam 1871, died Hastings 1956) was a pioneering photographic journalist who published his work in the new illustrated magazines of the late 19th and early 20th century. From the turn of the century he travelled around Europe, living in Berlin, Brussels, Paris and Jersey. With his eye for detail, timing and geometry, he accurately captured the leisure activities, sports and customs of the period. Besides their documentary value, his photographs have a quirky and almost surreal quality.
Leisure time is the main theme of Andrew Pitcairn-Knowles' work. It is his biggest interest as such and can also be found in his 'sports photography' (a term which in fact sometimes has been used including leisure activities like travel en picnicking) and to a lesser extent, in his photographs about customs. Leisure time emerged in the late nineteenth century in the industrialized West, which resulted in new forms of leisure activities. Pitcairn-Knowles was particularly interested in big organised festivities and events such as competitions like dog racing, horse racing, fairs, the derby, markets and the carnival. He photographed the higher classes as well as the lower classes: from neatly dressed ladies in a rabbit race contest to a boy catching rats for rat-baiting. In almost every series the spectators play a big role.
Physical description
A photograph of a poodle with his head in a small wooden box.
Date
early 20th century (photographed)
Artist/maker
Pitcairn-Knowles, Andrew, born 1871 - died 1956 (photographer)
Materials and Techniques
Gelatine-silver print
Marks and inscriptions
'010/14'
'Neg 3/11'
'8'
'The poodle, after breaking the cigar-box, making sure of his prey.'
'THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS AGENCY / 36, RUE DE LONGCHAMP, 36 / NEUILLY-PARIS'
'REPRODUCTION INTERDITE / COPYRIGHT'
Dimensions
Height: 12.8 cm, Width: 17.8 cm
Object history note
Pitcairn-Knowles Archive purchased from Andrew Pitcairn-Knowles' grandson Richard Pitcairn-Knowles for £10,000.
Historical context note
Andrew Pitcairn-Knowles (born Rotterdam 1871, died Hastings 1956) was a pioneering photographic journalist who published his work in the new illustrated magazines of the late 19th and early 20th century. From the turn of the century he travelled around Europe, living in Berlin, Brussels, Paris and Jersey. With his eye for detail, timing and geometry, he accurately captured the leisure activities, sports and customs of the period. Besides their documentary value, his photographs have a quirky and almost surreal quality.
Leisure time is the main theme of Andrew Pitcairn-Knowles' work. It is his biggest interest as such and can also be found in his 'sports photography' (a term which in fact sometimes has been used including leisure activities like travel en picnicking) and to a lesser extent, in his photographs about customs. Leisure time emerged in the late nineteenth century in the industrialized West, which resulted in new forms of leisure activities. Pitcairn-Knowles was particularly interested in big organised festivities and events such as competitions like dog racing, horse racing, fairs, the derby, markets and the carnival. He photographed the higher classes as well as the lower classes: from neatly dressed ladies in a rabbit race contest to a boy catching rats for rat-baiting. In almost every series the spectators play a big role.
Descriptive line
'The poodle, after breaking the cigar-box, making sure of his prey', photograph by Andrew Pitcairn-Knowles, early 20th century.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Pitcairn-Knowles, Richard. The Edwardian eye of Andrew Pitcairn-Knowles 1871-1056. Sussex: The Book Guild Ltd, 2000.
Subjects depicted
Dog; Fighting; Rat
Categories
Entertainment & Leisure; Photographs; Sport; Games
Collection code
PDP
