But while all these ladies were strutting their stuff in their pretty and voluminous hats around town, city and seaside, little did some of them realise that they were being surreptitiously watched – but by whom? Fortunately, no one with sinister intentions!
Edward Linley Sambourne (1844 – 1910), an artist and illustrator, who was later to become chief cartoonist for the Punch magazine was frequently to be seen ‘prowling’ the streets of Edwardian London and, later, Paris – in the nicest possible way of course. Like many artists and illustrators even today, Sambourne in the late 1800s and early 1900s resorted to photographic reference for his figure work as a cartoonist. The difference between Sambourne and just about all the other photographers of the day was that he shot many of his pictures in secret – in a sort of late Victorian and Edwardian Candid Camera scenario with what must have been a pretty small camera for the times. Difficult to secrete away a big plate camera you might imagine, and no digital stuff for our Edward, but having said that, there were some fairly small innovatively disguised cameras around at that time. It is in his ‘secret’ pictures, several of which are featured in this book, that we see the ladies of the day in a completely informal way, un-posed, and relaxed in their large hats going about their daily lives. One can imagine that there must have been a few awkward occasions when his cover was blown in those rather more formal times and that must have been a bit tricky. But nonetheless, his interesting images confirm once again the hold that these amazing hats had on the ladies of the day.
The talented Edward Linley Sambourne 1844-1910 – illustrator, amateur photographer and one time chief-cartoonist for Punch magazine in London. (Image by kind permission of The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea.)
Edward Linley Sambourne: In this shot, Sambourne captures two ladies carrying books and in deep discussion as they stroll through Kensington, London on 4 July 1906. (Image by kind permission of The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea.)
Edward Linley Sambourne: An enquiring, seemingly cautious, sideways look is given by this darkly dressed young lady as she strolls along the Cromwell Road, London on 19 June 1906. (Image by kind permission of The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea.)
Edward Linley Sambourne: A female cyclist adjusts her large hat. Quite a feat to ride a bike wearing one of those! Picture taken in Kensington on 8 September 1906. (Image by kind permission of The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea.)
Edward Linley Sambourne: Another young lady who Sambourne describes as a ‘shop girl’, engrossed in her book as she strolls along Church Street, Kensington, London on 8 September 1906. (Image by kind permission of The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea.)
Edward Linley Sambourne: A pair of pretty young ladies enjoying the atmosphere somewhere in Paris on 3 June 1906. (Image by kind permission of The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea.)
Edward Linley Sambourne: What a glamorous and chic trio. Picture taken by Sambourne in the Champs Elysees, Paris – 3 June 1906. (Image by kind permission of The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea.)
Edward Linley Sambourne: ‘Mind that Step!’ Taken in the Rue de Rivoli, Paris, on 5 June 1906. This package-laden lady with her companion and child make their way down the steps. Not the easiest of tasks in those voluminous skirts, but interesting hats! (Image by kind permission of The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea.)
Edward Linley Sambourne: The Tuileries Gardens, Paris – 4 June 1906. Looks like a family day out around the pond. Even the young children have delightful little hats. (Image by kind permission of The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea.)
Edward Linley Sambourne: A jaunty couple, complete with parasol take a stroll down the Boulevard des Italiens, Paris – 5 June 1906. (Image by kind permission of The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea.)