“I was terrified, I didn’t think I even knew who he was. But the light was good”
~ Jane Bown
(1925-2014)
“War doesn’t determine who is right - only who is left”
~ Bertrand Russell
This image was the first commission Jane ever received from The Observer newspaper in 1949.
Bertrand Russell was one of the early 20th Century, prominent logicians and the founder of analytic philosophy. He was awarded in 1950 the Nobel Prize in literature “in recognition of his varied and significant writing in which he champions humanitarian ideals and freedom of thought”.
Jane received the details of this first commission for The Observer via telegram. No e-mail or text back then.. she was to photograph Russell at breakfast. Everyone was happy with the results and she spent close to 40 years working for the paper. Her wise credo was “Photographers should neither be seen nor heard”.