Yevonde Life and Colour by Clare Freestone

This hardcover book will accompany the National Portrait Gallery exhibition Yevonde: Life in Colour opening in June 2023. This is the first exhibition dedicated to Yevonde Middleton since 1998 and will explore the story of her life and career. This illustrated publication showcases the work of Yevonde, providing in-depth context to her images.

‘If we are going to have colour photographs, for heaven’s sake let’s have a riot of colour, none of your wishy washy hand tinted effects.’ (Madame Yevonde in 1932 in an address to the Royal Photographic Society).

Yevonde (1893–1975) was a London-based photographer of portraits and still-life and a pioneer in photographic techniques in the 1930s, during a time when it was not considered a serious medium. Yevonde’s work is therefore significant in the history of British portrait photography.