James Joyce

© Berenice Abbott / Commerce Graphics Ltd, Inc.

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James Joyce

by Berenice Abbott
bromide print, 1926
9 3/8 in. x 7 5/8 in. (238 mm x 194 mm)
Purchased, 1995
Primary Collection
NPG P609

Sitterback to top

  • James Joyce (1882-1941), Novelist, poet and playwright. Sitter in 7 portraits.

Artistback to top

  • Berenice Abbott (1898-1991), Photographer. Artist or producer of 4 portraits.

This portraitback to top

This intimate portrait of Irish writer James Joyce is considered one of the defining images of the author. American photographer Abbott photographed Joyce on two occasions, the first in 1926 at his home in Paris, the second in 1928 at her studio. Abbott was a former assistant to Man Ray, employing softly diffused lighting to suggest a complex, introverted character. Since the 1910s, Joyce had suffered from eye problems. He had, in all, eleven operations on his eyes and at the time of this photograph was blind in his left eye.

Linked publicationsback to top

  • 100 Photographs, 2018, p. 60 Read entry

    This sensitive portrait of the Irish writer James Joyce (1882-1941) is considered one of the defining images of the author, known for his experimental ‘stream-ofconsciousness’ novels Ulysses (1922) and Finnegan’s Wake (1939). Berenice Abbott (1898-1991) photographed Joyce on two occasions, the first in 1926 at his home in Paris, the second in 1928 at her studio. A former assistant to Man Ray, Abbott employed softly diffused lighting to suggest a complex, introverted character. Since the 1910s, Joyce had suffered from eye problems. He had, in all, eleven ophthalmic operations and at the time of this photograph was blind in his left eye.

  • Nairne, Sandy (foreword); Carter, Graydon; Bailey, Christopher, Vanity Fair Portraits, 2008 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 14 June to 21 September 2008), p. 54
  • Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 343

Placesback to top

  • Place made and portrayed: France (sitter's home, Paris)

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

Events of 1926back to top

Current affairs

In response to wage cuts and increased working hours for coal miners recommended by the Samuel Commission, the Trade Union Council calls a General Strike of workers in the key industries. Although over 1.5 million workers took part, the TUC finally gave in after nine days and called off the strike. The Trade Disputes and Trade Union Act of 1927 made it harder for workers to strike.

Art and science

A.A. Milne publishes Winnie-the-Pooh. The series of popular children's books featured the character Christopher Robin (named after Milne's son) and a cast of animals based on his stuffed-toys including Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, Rabbit, Tigger, Kanga and Roo.
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is published. This was Agatha Christie's third 'whodunit' novel featuring Hercule Poirot, the Belgian Detective.

International

The League of Nations accepts Germany as the sixth permanent member on the council deeming it a 'peace-loving country'. This confidence, however, was short lived with Germany leaving the League with the accession of Adolf Hitler to power in 1933.

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