This classy and pensive photo of Nadja was taken for a special exhibition by the photographer Peter North which was an annual event held at his studio at 28 Old Burlington Street in June 1933.
For his 1933 exhibition, North chose the theme of Poems & Personality, with the exhibits designed as a three fold expression of beauty of the sitter, the composition and lighting of the photo and a literary quotation carefully chosen to go with each image.
Some of the photos from the exhibition were shown in the Bystander issues on 21st and 28th June, including this one of Nadja.
The quotation she chose to go with it was “Sit still, my daughter” from the Book of Ruth in the Bible
Other sitters for the exhibition included Miss Clare Elwes, The Lady Alington, Lady Peel, Lady Lavery, Miss Margaret Rawlings and the Comtesse de Villeneuve.
Note: The original photo was taken in black and white - we have just “colorized” it for effect…
