Jane Bown British Portrait Photographer The Observer Signed Original Photograph of Samuel Beckett London 1976 Silver Gelatin Print Andrew Ward Gallery Fine Art Photographs

Artist's Bio

Jane Bown began taking photographs for The Observer in January 1949. She is known for her elegant but revealing portraits which she always shoots in black and white without any artificial light. From politicians to actors, musicians to writers, she has an uncanny ability to capture the personality of her sitter. In 1985 she was awarded the MBE and in 1995 the CBE for her outstanding contribution to photography.

Samuel Beckett photographed leaving the rehearsals of 'Happy Days' at the Royal Court Theatre, London, where a Beckett season ran to celebrate his 70th birthday. Jane Bown had pre-arranged to photograph the playwright at the theatre but at the last minute the notoriously camera shy Beckett changed his mind opting to slip quietly out the stage door at the rear of the building. Bown who was waiting patiently in the lobby of the theatre got wind of this and raced to the back of the theatre to catch the fleeing Beckett. With persistence Bown persuaded a reluctant Beckett to allow her to take his portrait in what was now the compromised light of a darkened alley. She make total of five exposures. The resultant image is by far one of the most iconic images ever taken of Beckett and is included in the National Portrait Gallery’s primary collection.