Madame Yevonde: photographer

[herringbonekid]

Madame Yevonde (real name Yevonde Cumbers b.1893) was a young lady who pioneered the use of colour in portrait photography. she set up her own studio at the age of 21 (!) in London but her best work is from the mid to late 30s and made using the colour 'Vivex' process. the look of these unique works effectively ended in 1939 when the lab who produced the process closed and she went back to black and white. her work has a kind of staged dreamy artifice and is full of surreal touches. she also photographed the final fittings being made to the Cunard liner the Queen Mary in 1936.

(that is her holding the huge camera...)

 

[herringbonekid]

 

[nightandthecity]

beautiful! I love the pic pf the young lady with the owl and the Webley (or is it an Enfield?)

Who is the aviatrix? She looks very familiar.

Luxor goggles?

 

[herringbonekid]

the 'aviator' girl is the racing driver Jill Thomas, 1938.
don't know anything about guns.

more here:

http://www.madameyevonde.com/

 

[Naama]

21?! Ok, I'm also 21.... Guess I'll really have to hurry now........ Those pictures are great! I love the last one!


Naama

 

[herringbonekid]

don't panic too much. she was in her 30s and 40s when she did her best work. you've got a bit of time yet.

 

[Harp]

Pix

Thanks for photos and background info on the photographer.
My favorite pic is the woman after Jill's portrait, she is gorgeous.

 

[carebear]

That's amazing but disconcerting. Like the color film and pictures from WWII.

It's gotten in my head to associate the 30's-40's with black and white, any time I see color I want to think "reproduction".

Beautiful stuff, thanks for posting it.

 

[herringbonekid]

My favorite pic is the woman after Jill's portrait, she is gorgeous.

that's Vivien Leigh no less, 1936.

 

[Harp]

VL

that's Vivien Leigh no less, 1936.

I have been in love with her since forever.... :eusa_clap

 

[herringbonekid]

...and you didn't know it was her ???

 

[CharlieH.]

Wowee! Thanks for posting this. The gal in the first picture looks especially fetching (I got a weakness for dames in glasses...).

I looked into the site, and I came across a most agreeable line:

"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"

 

[Harp]

VL

...and you didn't know it was her ???

On second sight, after a first quick pass, I can identify her
better.... She did look familiar but against the flame red background,
I missed....lol

 

[carebear]

On second sight, after a first quick pass, I can identify her
better.... She did look familiar but against the flame red background,
I missed....lol

Couldn't see the starlet for the frieze. lol

 

[Harp]

Couldn't see the starlet for the frieze. lol

And still nursing a hangover from last nite's lash for Notre Damelol

 

[herringbonekid]

here's a couple of her Queen Mary photos. some of you will recognise the bar area...

(1936)

 

[Naama]

Oh those QM pictures are so great! I think they look more like paintings then like photographs.... Very impressing... I wonder if there is a way to re-create her colour process, but well, in those digital times....

Naama

 

[CharlieH.]

I wonder if there is a way to re-create her colour process, but well, in those digital times....

Naama

I've been experimenting with that for a while using the digital camera (set to shoot on B&W) and coloured cellophane "filters" although results have been less than perfect . I have yet to try it out on film, and with people.

 

[Harp]

beautiful! I love the pic pf the young lady with the owl and the Webley (or is it an Enfield?)

Who is the aviatrix? She looks very familiar.

Luxor goggles?

Looks like a Webley, and I know she's not VL!lol

 

[Girl Friday]

Is Madame Yevonde British?

I had to take History of Photography for my degree and I've never heard of her!?! Cool pics though.