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Alice B. Toklas; Gertrude Stein

1 of 4 portraits of Alice B. Toklas

© Cecil Beaton Archive / Condé Nast

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Alice B. Toklas; Gertrude Stein

by Cecil Beaton
bromide print, 1937
8 3/8 in. x 6 3/4 in. (214 mm x 170 mm)
Accepted in lieu of tax by H.M. Government and allocated to the Gallery, 1991
Photographs Collection
NPG x40370

Sittersback to top

  • Gertrude Stein (1874-1946), Writer. Sitter in 7 portraits.
  • Alice B. Toklas (1877-1967), Literary hostess; partner of Gertrude Stein. Sitter in 4 portraits.

Artistback to top

  • Cecil Beaton (1904-1980), Photographer, designer and writer. Artist or producer associated with 1114 portraits, Sitter associated with 360 portraits.

Linked publicationsback to top

  • Edited by Lucy Peltz & Louise Stewart, Love Stories: Art, Passion & Tragedy, 2020, p. 77
  • Pepper, Terence, Beaton Portraits, 2004 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 5 February - 31 May 2004), p. 94, 174 Read entry

    Accidents, those momentary disruptions that other photographers prized, were not permitted. A twisted, intrusive electric cable made itself at home in his portrait of Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas by posing as an artwork: Stein declared that it resembled one of Alexander Calder’s mobiles.

  • Pepper, Terence, Beaton Portraits, 2004 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 5 February to 31 May 2004), p. 95,174
  • Tinker, Christopher, Speak its Name! - Quotations by and about Gay Men and Women, 2016, p. 96

Subject/Themeback to top

Events of 1937back to top

Current affairs

George VI becomes king. The younger brother of Edward VIII was crowned on the 12th May and the coronation was broadcast to Britain and the Empire on the radio. Edward becomes the Duke of Windsor, although the rank of 'Royal Highness' is not extended to Wallis Simpson.
Neville Chamberlain becomes Prime Minister following Baldwin's retirement.

Art and science

Roland Penrose organises a tour of Picasso's painting Guernica to the UK. The painting, which shows the horrors of the Spanish Civil War, went on display at the Whitechapel Art Gallery in East London

International

Commercial airship travel is brought to an end with the 'Hindenberg Disaster'. The German airship exploded while landing in New Jersey. The radio broadcaster Herbert Morrison's reaction has become legendary: 'Oh, the humanity!'
Japan invades China, killing about 25,000. Japanese Troops committed numerous atrocities against soldiers and civilians in what became known as the 'Rape of Nanking'.

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