Eva, London
Photograph
1960s (Photographed), 2011 (printed)
1960s (Photographed), 2011 (printed)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Born in 1929, Ghanaian photographer James Barnor documented the shift towards modern living as experienced by black people in both Africa and Britain. Whilst living in London in the 1960s, Barnor took fashion and lifestyle photographs for Africa’s first black politics and lifestyle magazine, Drum. His photograph of Drum model Eva gives a new face to modern glamour, recording the emergence of cosmopolitan urban society for a trans-national readership.
The V&A acquired five photographs by James Barnor as part of the Staying Power project. Staying Power is a five year partnership between the V&A and Black Cultural Archives. The project aims to explore black British experience from the 1950s to the 1990s through photographs acquired by the V&A and oral histories conducted by Black Cultural Archives.
The V&A acquired five photographs by James Barnor as part of the Staying Power project. Staying Power is a five year partnership between the V&A and Black Cultural Archives. The project aims to explore black British experience from the 1950s to the 1990s through photographs acquired by the V&A and oral histories conducted by Black Cultural Archives.
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Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Eva, London (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | gelatin silver print |
Brief description | Photograph by James Barnor, 'Eva, London', gelatin silver print, London, 1960s, printed 2011, ed. 2/10 |
Physical description | Black and white, square format photograph depicting a young woman's shoulders and face. Taken from behind the sitter's left shoulder, she looks back over her shoulder, directly at the camera; smiling slightly. A three-globed silver earring hangs from her left ear, which is covered by her beehive hairstyle. The shoulder strap and part of the bow from a polka-dot dress can be seen and she is wearing a necklace that matches her earrings. Her eyebrows are accentuated and she has dark eyeliner flicking up from under her left eye.The background is blurred. |
Dimensions |
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Style | |
Production type | Limited edition |
Marks and inscriptions | Lower right of image signed 'JAMES BARNOR 1960s/2011' and lower right, verso; 'ED 2/10'. |
Gallery label | Text label for the exhibition, 'Staying Power: Photographs of Black British Experience, 1950s-1990s
16 February – 24 May 2015
James Barnor (born 1929)
Everything in My Hand I Bring, 1953
Selina Opong, Policewoman #10, 1954
Wedding Guests in London, 1960 – 69
Eva, London, 1960
Barnor set up a photography studio in Accra in Ghana
in 1947. Although intended as personal mementos for
the sitters, his studio photographs also record changes
in Ghanaian society in the 1950s and ’60s. Policewoman
Selina Opong, who poses in one of the photographs, was
one of the first female police officers to graduate from the
newly established police academy in Accra. Barnor later
moved to London, where his reportage work for magazines
showed the emergence of a modern, multicultural city.
Gelatin silver prints (printed 2011)
Museum nos. E.102, 104 to 106-2012(16/02/2015-24/05/2015) |
Credit line | Supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. |
Object history | The V&A acquired this photograph as part of the Staying Power project. Staying Power is a five year partnership between the V&A and Black Cultural Archives. The project aims to explore black British experience from the 1950s to the 1990s through photographs acquired by the V&A and oral histories conducted by Black Cultural Archives. |
Subject depicted | |
Place depicted | |
Association | |
Summary | Born in 1929, Ghanaian photographer James Barnor documented the shift towards modern living as experienced by black people in both Africa and Britain. Whilst living in London in the 1960s, Barnor took fashion and lifestyle photographs for Africa’s first black politics and lifestyle magazine, Drum. His photograph of Drum model Eva gives a new face to modern glamour, recording the emergence of cosmopolitan urban society for a trans-national readership. The V&A acquired five photographs by James Barnor as part of the Staying Power project. Staying Power is a five year partnership between the V&A and Black Cultural Archives. The project aims to explore black British experience from the 1950s to the 1990s through photographs acquired by the V&A and oral histories conducted by Black Cultural Archives. |
Associated objects | |
Other number | 2/10 - Limited Edition Number |
Collection | |
Accession number | E.104-2012 |
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Record created | March 7, 2012 |
Record URL |
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