Agatha Christie (1890-1976)
Angus McBean (1904 - 1990)
Category
Photographs
Date
1949 - 1950
Materials
Glass, Photographic paper, Wood
Measurements
211 mm (H)160 mm (W)392 mm (H)226 mm (W)284 mm (H)208 mm (W)
Order this imageCollection
Greenway, Devon
NT 121726
Caption
Shining a theatrical light on queen of crime fiction Agatha Christie (1890–1976), Angus McBean brought his renowned glamour and style to this staging of the rarely photographed author. During the same week as the release of her 50th whodunnit, A Murder is Announced, this portrait was published in The Sketch, which regularly featured the work of both Christie and McBean. Using a plate camera and floodlighting, McBean excelled in innovative theatre photography and frequently surreal portraiture of leading actors, dancers, musicians, artists and writers. In another photograph from the same shoot, McBean superimposed around Christie’s head a montage of hands holding weapons, including a dagger and a pistol – visual clues to the murder-mystery celebrity of his sitter. Christie’s fame continued to thrive. Her West End play The Mousetrap opened soon after in 1952. We know she was fond of this particular portrait.
Summary
Framed monochrome photograph of Agatha Christie posed pensively with chin resting on right hand in the studio of Angus McBean, 1949-50.
Makers and roles
Angus McBean (1904 - 1990), photographer