Barbara Hepworth at work on the armature of a sculpture

1 portrait of Barbara Hepworth

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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Barbara Hepworth at work on the armature of a sculpture

by Ida Kar
vintage bromide print, 1961
8 3/4 in. x 7 1/2 in. (221 mm x 192 mm)
Purchased, 1999
Photographs Collection
NPG x88517

Sitterback to top

  • Dame Barbara Hepworth (1903-1975), Sculptor; second wife of Ben Nicholson. Sitter in 31 portraits, Artist or producer of 1 portrait.

Artistback to top

  • Ida Kar (1908-1974), Photographer. Artist or producer associated with 1567 portraits, Sitter in 137 portraits.

Related worksback to top

  • NPG x88502: Barbara Hepworth at work on the armature of a sculpture (from same photo shoot)
  • NPG x88513: Barbara Hepworth at work on the armature of a sculpture (from same photo shoot)

Linked publicationsback to top

  • Freestone, Clare (appreciation) Wright, Karen (appreciation), Ida Kar Bohemian Photographer, 2011 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 10 March to 19 June 2011), p. 117 Read entry

    Yorkshire-born Hepworth studied at Leeds School of Art and at the Royal College of Art, along with her friend Henry Moore. In 1924 she was awarded a travel scholarship to Italy, where she married the sculptor John Skeaping. Hepworth joined the avant-garde Seven and Five Society in 1931 and was a member of other groups of artists, including Abstraction-Création and Unit One. Ben Nicholson became her second husband in 1938, and the following year she moved with him to St Ives in Cornwall. Although the marriage was dissolved in 1951, their mutual influence persisted, and both achieved international recognition post-war period. Hepworth's global standing was confirmed when she was awarded the Grand Prix at the 1959 São Paolo Bienale, followed by the second of two Whitechapel exhibitions in 1962. A commission for the Tatler allowed Kar to photograph the sculptor. Hepworth is seen here at work on the armature of a sculpture at the Palais de Dans, a former cinema and dance hall which she acquired to serve as an additional workshop and store. This portrait was exhibited for the first time in Kar's 1962 Moscow exhibition. Hepworth was made a Dame in 1965.

Placesback to top

Events of 1961back to top

Current affairs

Peter Benenson's article The Forgotten Prisoners is published internationally, inspiring the founding of the human rights organisation, Amnesty International.
The philosopher and peace activist Bertrand Russell is imprisoned for inciting civil disobedience during a sit down demonstration at the Ministry of Defence and Hyde Park.
The farthing coin - used in Britain for the last 7 centuries - ceases to be legal tender.

Art and science

Rudolf Nureyev defects from the USSR fearing that the KGB would arrest him for being gay and for fraternising with foreigners. After seeking asylum in Paris he set up home in London at the Royal Ballet and began his famous partnership with Margot Fonteyn.
The satirical magazine, Private Eye is first published.

International

The East German government erects the Berlin Wall, ceasing free movement between East and West Berlin. The barrier prevented citizens of Soviet controlled East Germany from crossing the border into West Germany to work, or to defect.
Yuri Gagarin, the soviet cosmonaut, becomes the first man in space orbiting the earth on the 12th April.

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