Putting Britain in the Picture

Moving exhibition at One Canada Square of photographs from the Daily Mirror.

The show marked the 120th anniversary of the paper and was displayed around the walls of the foyer. The Mirror has the first paper to give photographs a prominent place and the early examples in particular are fascinating. The 55 pictures gave a good overview of British political and social history over the period.

They are shown with good short descriptions and the name of the photographer where it’s known. It would have been nice to see some original prints but for a show in this sort of space it was done well.

I say moving because once you get into the pictures from your lifetime the memories come flooding back and the last one of a father saying goodbye to the son he was putting on a train out of the Ukraine bought a tear to my eye. The photos did reflect the papers left of centre bias but, as I sympathise, that added to it for me.

However my favourite picture was this one of Dr Crippen being smuggled into a ship in Canada for extradition. It must be a very early example of a press photographer capturing an exclusive moment.

Closed 14 November 2023


 

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