66 22 February 2020I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.ukI subscribe 0330 333 1113
Final AnalysisPeterDenchis a photographer,writer,curatorandpresenterbasedin London.Heis oneof theco-curatorsof PhotoNorthin Harrogateandhasbeenexhibiteddozensof times.Hehaspublisheda number
of books includingThe Dench Dozen: Great Britons of Photography Vol 1; Dench Does Dallas; The British Abroad; A&E: Alcohol & England and England Uncensored. Visitpeterdench.com
PeterDenchconsiders...‘GentlemenÕ, 1981-1983, by Karen KnorrPhoto Critique© KAREN KNORRI
didn’tbecomefullyclassconscious
untilI leftmyworking-classhome
townofWeymouthin 1990 to
studyunderthebrightlightsof
Bournemouth, 30 mileseastalongthe
Dorsetcoast.ThereI metdouble-barrelled
DigbyandhischumCholmondley.
Theyopenedmyeyestoa worldof
privilegeI waspreviouslyunawareof.
I wascaptivatedandcompelled.My
firstphotographyprojectswerespent
visitingtheposhestpublicschoolsthat
wouldtoleratemyattendance:Rugby,
Uppingham,ReptonandMalvernGirls’
College.WhenI wasrefusedaccess,I
wentalonganywayandhungaroundthe
commonstreetcorners.I snappedEton
Collegeschoolboysintheirpinstripe
trousersandblacktailcoatspassing
througha tumescentarchwaytowards
their15th-centuryclassroomswith21st-
centurytechnology.I interruptedHarrow
schoolboyswearingsummerstrawhatsfor
a portraitoutsideivy-cladhallsthatwould
inspireHarryPotter.
WhenI movedtoLondonin1995,my
upper-classcompulsioncontinued.I wrote
toallofthegentlemen’sclubsaroundSt
James’sStreetandPallMall.I’dheard
rumoursthatbuseswerebannedfrom
travellingalongthethoroughfaresso
passengerscouldn’tpeerinatthemembers,
northemembershavetogazeuponthem.I
hadtolookinsideandhadsomesuccess;
theTravellers,Reform,Carltonand
AthenaeumClubsallopenedtheirdoors,
mainlyviatheserviceentrance.I was
restrictedtophotographingstaff, interiors
anddetail.Themembers remained elusive,
eventuallyI gaveup.
Exclusiveclubs
PhotographerKarenKnorrhadbetter
success.Atthetime,I wasn’tawareofher
bookGentlemen, a seriesofphotographs
takenbetween 1981 and1983,insidethe
exclusiveclubsthatdominatethearea.
Knorris frominternationalstock.The
German-bornAmericanwasraisedin
PuertoRicoandeducatedinParisbefore
arrivinginLondonin1976.Herfirst
Londonresidencewasa tastytwo-floor
apartmentatthesought-afteraddressof
LowndesSquare,Belgravia– herparents
had purchased a 25-year lease.
BeforeGentlemen, Knorrproduced
Belgravia. Sheapproachedhersubjects
asthe‘girlnextdoor’andaspiring
photographer.Shespenthoursvisitingher
subjects,introducedtoherthrougha
networkofherparents’friendsand
acquaintancesfromtheexclusive
neighbourhood.
Gentlemendelvesfurtherintotherituals
oftheEnglishestablishmentelite.Knorr
describesthisimageas‘documentary
fiction’.Theaccompanyingtextprolongs
theviewingandbringsnewmeaningand
humourthatplaysontheobserver’s
culturalbackground.Theseatedgentleman
couldbea clubmemberora utilised
member of staff , an actor or friend ofKnorr’s.It’sa collaborativeperformance.
Togethertheelementsoftheimageraise
questionsofpatriarchy,genderandclass.
Whenmetwithrestrictions,Knorrfindsa
wayofcommunicatinghermessage.The
camerais a tool,onlypartoftheprocess.
Thisphotographis partoftheBarbican
ArtGallery’sexhibition– Masculinities:
LiberationthroughPhotography
(20February-17May).
Decadesonfromtheresonating
ThatcheryearsandembersofEmpire,it’s
stilla depressinglyrelevantimage:the
privileged,privatelyeducated,private
member,Oxbridgegraduatesarerunning
thecountry.Themorethingschange,
the more they remain the same.