Photograph thumbnail 1
Photograph thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
British Galleries, Room 122c

Photograph

1898 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
This photograph is taken from a family photograph album. Most of the photographs in it are printed on platinum paper, which was introduced in 1879. Such a photograph was expensive to produce and enjoyed for its delicate tonal gradations and matt surface.

Ownership & Use
This family photograph album contains single and group portraits and depictions of sports and pastimes that would have amused family, friends and visitors. It is a personal keepsake and document of a wealthy family of the 1890s. Many Victorian and Edwardian family photograph albums such as these were acquired by the V&A in the 1950s and 60s to show examples of the dress of that period.

Social Class
Throughout most of the 19th century women had few legal rights to property, money, children, or even, after marriage, their own bodies. However, there were great changes in attitudes during the last decade of the century. The traditional role of women was questioned and some women openly defied convention. They educated themselves by reading widely and took up what were seen as 'un-ladylike' activities such as smoking and cycling. The free movement of the bicycle was seen as a symbol of equality and personal freedom.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Platinum print
Brief description
Photograph in a family photograph album of girls on bikes
Physical description
Photograph
Dimensions
  • Album height: 27.5cm
  • Album open width: 80cm
Dimensions checked: Measured; 26/01/1999 by sf
Gallery label
British Galleries: You press the button, we do the rest' was the advertising slogan of the photographic firm Kodak. Small, light cameras and factory processing of negatives produced enthusiastic and inventive amateur photographers.This album celebrates such new, 'un-ladylike' pastimes as photography and cycling. The invention of the safety bicycle with air-filled tyres started a cycling craze in the 1890s.(27/03/2003)
Credit line
The Ashton Collection
Object history
Taken in Britain by an unknown photographer
Summary
Object Type
This photograph is taken from a family photograph album. Most of the photographs in it are printed on platinum paper, which was introduced in 1879. Such a photograph was expensive to produce and enjoyed for its delicate tonal gradations and matt surface.

Ownership & Use
This family photograph album contains single and group portraits and depictions of sports and pastimes that would have amused family, friends and visitors. It is a personal keepsake and document of a wealthy family of the 1890s. Many Victorian and Edwardian family photograph albums such as these were acquired by the V&A in the 1950s and 60s to show examples of the dress of that period.

Social Class
Throughout most of the 19th century women had few legal rights to property, money, children, or even, after marriage, their own bodies. However, there were great changes in attitudes during the last decade of the century. The traditional role of women was questioned and some women openly defied convention. They educated themselves by reading widely and took up what were seen as 'un-ladylike' activities such as smoking and cycling. The free movement of the bicycle was seen as a symbol of equality and personal freedom.
Collection
Accession number
E.2283:191-1997

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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