Frederick James Wilfred - London Photographs 1957 - 1962

Venue details

Museum of London
150 London Wall
EC2Y 5HN London
England, United Kingdom
T: +44 20 7001 9844

Event details

In partnership with the Museum of London, the London Festival of Photography will soon be featuring the work of street photographer Frederick James Wilfred, showcasing unprecedented images of post-war London. Born in Islington, London, Frederick James Wilfred’s life largely revolved around photography. Having served in the Royal Air Force as well as in the Army, he later worked as Chief photographer for Hawker Syddley, a British aircraft manufacturing company. Wilfred went on to make a living out of photography, opening his own camera shop and a portrait studio in London, having his work publicly displayed for the first time in an exhibition entitled The Camera Looks at London, in 1961.

James Wilfred’s medium-format photographs provide a frank and even light-hearted portrait of a mid-20th century London still recovering from the war. It is as though the widespread effects of WWII are very obviously conveyed without necessarily yielding James Wilfred’s photographs a critical weight. His images are evocative in that they they provide insight into the everyday life of London’s inhabitants, but remain free of any political or social commentary. They highlight the human aspect of a European capital, still vibrant and energetic despite the effects of a devastating world war. 

For more on the London Festival of Photography and other events and exhibitions being held as part of it have a look at their website.