The photography of the legendary Bert Hardy endures for a reason, as a new exhibition of his work reveals, writes Ailsa McWhinnie
The Photographers’ Gallery, London, £8/£5 concessions, 23 February – 2 June. Open Mon-Wed 10am-6pm; Thur and Fri 10am-8pm (Friday free from 5pm); Sat 10am-6pm; Sun 11am-6pm. See thephotographersgallery.org.uk
The era of Picture Post, which was published between 1938 and 1957, is seen as something of a golden age in British documentary photography – and with good reason. It established the careers of several photographers who are still well-known names, including Kurt Hutton, Grace Robertson, Thurston Hopkins and, possibly most widely recognised of all, Bert Hardy.
He is the subject of the exhibition Bert Hardy: Photojournalism in War and Peace, on show at The Photographers’ Gallery in London. Born in 1913 to a working-class family, Hardy was the eldest of seven. A self-taught photographer, he made his first sale at the age of 23, having photographed King George V and Queen Mary during the king’s Silver Jubilee celebrations. He went on to join Picture Post in 1941, becoming chief photographer and staying until the magazine ceased publication. The exhibition features all the images you would expect, and which ha
