Return Journey - ACE112.4

Photographs of Clement Attlee, other politicians, members of the public. Commentary repeats a typical Observer’s report on particular women, their appearance, and their activities, as well as on conversations they had with local people. Spender on flat roof of Mere Hall Art Gallery building; view from above; photograph from same location of Spender and Graham Bell. Spender on Harrisson’s idea that painters could add a subjective dimension to the project. Photograph of William Coldstream painting a view of Bolton from the Gallery roof. Spender describes Harrisson’s view of photography as a useful tool in recording human behaviour, and suspects he not would have agreed with W H Auden’s claim that the camera is "a bloody liar". Contact sheets; commentary says that the idea that "truth" existed and could be captured photographically was fundamental "to the working of the documentary concept". Spender’s VO says that this "truth" was thought to exist if the subject did not know he or she was being photographed (Funeral of John Shaw, Davenport Street, 1937). Images of women and laundry, one of which (Back Alley, 1937) Spender remembers simply as making "a marvellous photograph". Spender talks about MO’s lack of resources which meant that they could not afford to reproduce photographs in any of their books. The cover of the first Picture Post, which recruited Spender in 1938. Photographs from the magazine, some the result of Spender’s commission to tour major British towns. Spender talks about Tom Hopkinson’s wish to bring the desperate social conditions in Tyneside to public attention; photographs. Correspondence about this feature, for and against its views. Spender describes how he followed this with a report, made at the request of the Mayor, "on new housing estates and … mayoral banquets…" which only served to underline the poverty shown in the earlier one. Spender shows, from the same issue, a sequence of photographs by Bill Brandt on The Perfect Parlourmaid. Commentary points to Picture Post’s exposure of "the scandals of inequality" and its suggestions for improvements. Articles on town planning (Maxwell Fry), social security (A D K Owen), Work for All (Thomas Balogh), etc.