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Photography at its most noble
The Guardian
Everywhere I look, and most of the time I look, I see photographs.
Bert Hardy
London-born Bert Hardy (1913-1995, UK) was an influential English press and documentary photographer known for his work for Picture Post magazine. Born into a working-class family in Blackfriars, Hardy was self-taught and worked as both a combat photographer and an advertising photographer during his illustrious career.
Discover the key moments in Hardy’s unparalleled career – from self-taught news and sports photographer, to serving combat cameraman, renowned Picture Post photojournalist and successful advertising entrepreneur. Â
As well as historic material from his work for Britain’s leading photo-magazine, Picture Post, this retrospective includes photographs during his time in the Army Film and Photographic Unit, including imagery from the Blitz in London to the liberation of Bergen-Belsen and war in Southeast Asia. Â
Hardy’s extensive social documentary work in mid-century Britain in cities including London, Liverpool, Cardiff, Belfast, Tyneside and Glasgow, his travels across postwar Europe and images from the many conflicts he reported on will be on show, alongside a rich selection of material from Hardy’s archive, complemented by some of his lesser known colour work.
The archive, now held by Cardiff University, includes press passes, correspondence, diaries and original publications, as well as camera equipment.Â
The exhibition has potentially triggering content including nudity, depictions of violence, and other sensitive matter. Please email for further information, or speak to a member of staff.
Robinson And Fans, 1951. Photo by Bert Hardy/Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
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.
Tom Hopkinson (Picture Post editor, 1940-50)
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. Bert Hardy: Photojournalism in War and Peace is produced in collaboration with Dr Tom Allbeson, Senior Lecturer in Media History, Cardiff University.
The Estate of Bert Hardy is represented by Print Sales at The Photographers’ Gallery. Hardy’s work is available to buy from £1500 + VAT. Visit the Print Sales Gallery on the lower ground floor to find out more. All profits from Print Sales support The Photographers’ Gallery programme.
Hot off the press is a fabulous new book Bert Hardy: Britain Through His Lens 1938-1957. Â
Published for Bert Hardy: Photojournalism in War and Peace, showing here at The Photographers’ Gallery this book is a new revised paperback edition of the out of print Bert Hardy's Britain.
The book features a new introduction by Tom Allbeson, Senior Lecturer in Media History, Cardiff University and Karen McQuaid, Senior Curator, The Photographers’ Gallery.
Buy now'War, peace and goalkeeping pandas: Bert Hardy’s nostalgic Britain – in pictures' - The Guardian
"Hardy’s work ranged from hard-hitting war photography to images of the British at play" - The Art Newspaper
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