Not currently on display at the V&A

The Lesson

Photograph
1975-1985 (photographed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Black and white photograph of landscape proportions, mounted on grey card. The image shows a teacher coaching three pupils in tennis techniques (all four carry tennis racquets) out of doors, on a hard court. The teacher, a man with a beard and dark curly hair, is wearing a light-coloured polo shirt and sleeveless jumper with dark tracksuit trousers, white socks and training shoes, and is demonstrating a backhand stroke. To the left of him stand a curly-haired girl wearing a white T-shirt and tennis skirt with training shoes, and a boy with fair hair wearing a long-sleeved white top with white shorts and socks and coloured training shoes. To the right of the teacher is a younger child with short straight hair, who is wearing a short-sleeved white sports shirt with white shorts, socks and training shoes.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Lesson (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Photographic paper on card
Brief description
Black and white photograph (a tennis lesson) by Alec Brooking; British, 1975-1985
Physical description
Black and white photograph of landscape proportions, mounted on grey card. The image shows a teacher coaching three pupils in tennis techniques (all four carry tennis racquets) out of doors, on a hard court. The teacher, a man with a beard and dark curly hair, is wearing a light-coloured polo shirt and sleeveless jumper with dark tracksuit trousers, white socks and training shoes, and is demonstrating a backhand stroke. To the left of him stand a curly-haired girl wearing a white T-shirt and tennis skirt with training shoes, and a boy with fair hair wearing a long-sleeved white top with white shorts and socks and coloured training shoes. To the right of the teacher is a younger child with short straight hair, who is wearing a short-sleeved white sports shirt with white shorts, socks and training shoes.
Dimensions
  • (image only) height: 31.7cm
  • (image only) width: 40.1cm
  • (mount) height: 31.7cm
  • (mount) width: 41cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 10. (Unknown; upper left corner of mount back; writing; pencil)
  • 'THE LESSON' (Textual information; upper left corner of mount back; writing; pencil)
  • ALEC BROOKING/ 3 MEADWAY/ NORTHAMPTON (Maker's identification; upper left corner of mount back; writing; pencil)
  • 27/17/10/ 270 (Unknown; lower left corner of mount back; writing; pencil)
Credit line
Given by Mrs Margaret Brooking
Object history
The photograph was taken by Alec Brooking during his career as teacher/ headmaster in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire
Production
Probably taken at Warwick County Primary School, Wellingborough

Reason For Production: Private
Subjects depicted
Collection
Accession number
B.28-1998

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Record createdJanuary 11, 1999
Record URL
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