Bert Hardy: Photojournalism in War and Peace opens at The Photographers’ Gallery this spring, from 23 February – 2 June 2024. From his early career as a news and sports photographer, to serving combat cameraman and successful advertising entrepreneur, this retrospective of renowned photojournalist Bert Hardy (1913-1995, London, UK) shines a fresh light on his four-decades long career.
Hardy is often associated with a nostalgic, monochrome vision of mid-century Britain – from the Blitz spirit of 1940 to children playing in post-war city streets, and seaside scenes from the 1950s. Pulling together work from his archive and historical publications, this retrospective reveals another perspective on a versatile, international and entrepreneurial image-maker.
Born into a working-class family in Blackfriars, Hardy was entirely self-taught and worked his way up from lab assistant to become an influential press and documentary photographer. Well-known for his work at Picture Post magazine, Hardy travelled extensively, covering news, social issues and popular culture stories across the UK and internationally. His long-time collaborator, Tom Hopkinson, Editor of Picture Post (1940-50) described Hardy as ‘The nearest to an all-round cameraman I ever worked with. There were few assignments – except perhaps theatre and ballet – on which I wouldn’t have wished to send him.’
Known for his empathetic portrayal of everyday scenes of British life, Hardy’s work also demonstrates a strong commitment to revealing social conditions and working class lives in the post-war years. Hardy had a genuine interest in people’s lives and said ‘The ideal picture tells something of the essence of life. It sums up emotion, it holds the feeling of movement thereby implying the continuity of life.’
As well as historic material from his work at Britain’s leading photo-magazine of the time, Picture Post, the exhibition includes photographs taken during his time in the Army Film and Photographic Unit, including imagery from the London Blitz to the liberation of Bergen-Belsen and war in Southeast Asia.
Bert Hardy: Photojournalism in War and Peace includes Hardy’s wide-ranging social documentary work across many cities in mid-century Britain, including London, Liverpool, Cardiff, Belfast, Tyneside and Glasgow. His travels across post-war Europe and images from the many conflicts he reported on will also be on show. A rich selection of material from Hardy’s archive, including press passes, correspondence, diaries, and original publications will be displayed, alongside some of his lesser-known colour work.
Hard-working, resourceful and imaginative, Hardy was constantly taking and making opportunities to build a remarkable photographic career as a photojournalist. Later in his career, he worked as a commercial photographer, specialising in advertising and branding until his retirement in 1965.
Bert Hardy: Photojournalism in War and Peace is organised with the generous support of The Bert Hardy Estate, The Victoria and Albert Museum, Getty Images Hulton Archive and Cardiff University. The exhibition is produced in collaboration with Dr Tom Allbeson, Senior Lecturer in Media History, Cardiff University.
Bert Hardy (1913-1995, London, UK) was a documentary and press photographer known for his work as the leading staff photographer for Picture Post magazine. Hardy was self-taught and worked his way up from lab assistant to photographer. He travelled widely as a photojournalist and captured significant world events, popular culture stories and personalities of the day, alongside documenting everyday British life. Hardy was one of the British pioneers who used compact cameras for press work. Forging a career as a sports photographer in the late 1930s, he used a Leica camera and 35mm film to capture the action as it unfolded. He used the same skillset to record Britain during the Blitz after the start of the Second World War. Hardy served in the Army Film and Photographic Unit from 1942 to 1946. He landed in France in June 1944, where he photographed post-war Paris and was one of the first photographers to enter the liberated Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. He went on to document the Korean War – and won awards for his photographs of the Battle of Inchon. Hardy continued to work at Picture Post until it closed in 1957; and then became a successful advertising photographer. In 1965 he retired from professional photography and became a farmer.
The Estate of Bert Hardy is represented by Print Sales at The Photographers’ Gallery. Hardy’s work is available to buy from £1500 + VAT. All profits from Print Sales support The Photographers’ Gallery programme.
Bert Hardy : Photojournalism in War and Peace
from 23 February – 2 June 2024
The Photographers’ Gallery
16-18 Ramillies Street, London, W1F 7LW
Nearest London Underground Station: Oxford Circus
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www.thephotographersgallery.org.uk
