We take a look at what is being said about this exhibition now on display until the 16th June.
Time Out: *** “So why show these two together? There’s a definite influence here, and an occasional similarity of theme. But when you start the exhibition by showing two works next to each other just because they both feature umbrellas you know you’re clutching at curatorial straws.”
The Guardian: **** “Smoky, hazy picture after picture of chimerical women, the show begins to leave you in the light-headed reverie it promises. Then it ends in a room bluntly called Men – some of Cameron’s most celebrated portraits, and some of Woodman’s least known. This room is surprisingly welcome, a chance to scrutinise and subject these male figures – friends, lovers and acquaintances of the artists – to the public gaze.”
The Independent: *** “Born more than a century apart, one a Victorian pioneer, the other an American who died young, these female stars of photography aren’t an entirely satisfying mix – but Francesca Woodman’s thrilling images steal the show.”
The Telegraph: **** “This intelligent and exquisite new exhibition, Portraits to Dream In, reveals surprising connections between the two female artists.”
Evening Standard: *** “The show is organised around themes linking the artists’ work: representations of angels and mythology, nature and femininity, depictions of men, and favoured models. But they tend to emphasise distinctions rather than commonalities.”
The Observer: ***** “There is a lot to take in here in one viewing, but the intriguing pairing of two disparate female pioneers is a quietly subversive way of exploring their work anew, from a perspective that elevates and contrasts their imaginative strategies rather than their respective life stories. While Julia Margaret Cameron’s guiding presence is palpable in all her portraits – their compositional skill, elaborate tableaux and allegorical resonance – Francesca Woodman is a more complex and shapeshifting author of her own mystery. She once said: “You cannot see me from where I look at myself.” As this creative coupling makes clear, that remains the case.”
The Upcoming: ***** “As the title indicates, these portraits are not merely for viewing, but for immersing ourselves deeply and losing ourselves within their depths, only to emerge, perhaps, with newfound insights about ourselves. This exhibit, indeed provides a quaint refuge for dreaming.”
To find out more visit: https://www.npg.org.uk/whatson/exhibitions/2024/francesca-woodman-and-julia-margaret-cameron-portraits-to-dream-in