Discover our hand framed Yevonde art prints and posters. All prints are lovingly framed to order by our experts right here in the UK workshop.
Madame Yevonde, originally Yevonde Cumbers, from Streatham, South London, born into a well-off family in 1893. Her upbringing was steeped in theatrical outings, costume galas, and a bustling social circle. At sixteen, she ventured to a convent school in Belgium, where her academic ennui led her to stumble upon the Suffragette Movement, igniting a profound lifelong passion.
Returning to Britain, she initially immersed herself in suffragette activism, though she later realized she lacked the unwavering commitment to make it her life's work. Believing fervently in independence, she sought a career affording both financial stability and autonomy.
Inspired by an advertisement for a photographic studio assistant, seventeen-year-old Yevonde embarked on a journey into photography, opting to train under Lallie Charles, the era's eminent society photographer, instead of Lena Connell, the veteran photographer associated with the Suffragette Movement. Under Charles's tutelage in her Curzon Street studio, Yevonde honed her skills in catering to aristocratic clientele, constructing enchanting realms of allure to meet their expectations. Transitioning to "the Works," she delved into the intricacies of print spotting and retouching. By 1914, recognizing the waning relevance of Charles's romanticized Edwardian aesthetic,
Yevonde resolved to establish her own studio. With backing from her father and a modest studio in Victoria, she launched "Madame Yevonde – Portrait Photographer," sensing the need for a more contemporary approach to studio portraiture. Embracing diverse poses and backdrops, her business thrived amidst stiff competition.
