Who painted Elphinstone Agnes Maude barefoot?

Elphinstone Agnes Maude barefoot was painted by Clementina Hawarden in 1860.

Where can I see Elphinstone Agnes Maude barefoot?

Elphinstone Agnes Maude barefoot is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Elphinstone Agnes Maude barefoot?

Elphinstone Agnes Maude barefoot is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Elphinstone Agnes Maude barefoot

Clementina Hawarden , 1860

Elphinstone Agnes Maude barefoot is a photographic photography by the Impressionist artist Clementina Hawarden. It dates from 1860 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

This photo shows a young girl barefoot, caught in a playful moment. Clementina Hawarden took it around 1859–1861. Photography then was slow and tricky—glass plates, long waits. Still, she made it look easy.

The trick? Hawarden staged this “spontaneous” shot on purpose. Every detail, every pose, was planned before the shutter clicked.

Check out more work by Hawarden, Clementina (Viscountess) next.

Overview

This mid-19th-century photograph by Clementina Hawarden captures a fleeting, playful moment of a young girl, barefoot and in spontaneous pose, circa 1859-1861.

Subject & Meaning

The image portrays Hawarden's daughter, Agnes Maude Elphinstone, in a carefully staged representation of childhood spontaneity, blurring the line between natural behavior and directed composition.

Technique & Style

Utilizing the wet collodion process on glass negatives, Hawarden skillfully executed a pre-planned setup, characteristic of photography's 'conceptual' era, where meticulous planning preceded each shot due to the medium's technical challenges.

History & Provenance

Created between 1859 and 1861, the photograph reflects Hawarden's practice of directing her children in posed, yet seemingly spontaneous, domestic scenes, highlighting her adaptability with the cumbersome wet collodion technique.

Artist & collection

Artist

Clementina Hawarden

Clementina Maude, Viscountess Hawarden, commonly known as Lady Clementina Hawarden, was a Scottish amateur portrait photographer of the Victorian era. She produced over 800 photographs mostly of her adolescent daughters.