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Bert Hardy

British, 1913-1995
Bert Hardy was a British photojournalist renowned for his compassionate and immersive approach to documenting everyday life. Born in Blackfriars, London, he left school at the age of fourteen and worked a series of jobs before discovering photography while serving in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Largely self-taught, Hardy developed his skills through constant practice and experimentation, using photography as a way to engage closely with the world around him. His early experiences shaped a deeply humanistic outlook that would define his career. Hardy is best known for his long association with Picture Post, where he produced some of the most memorable images of post-war Britain and beyond. Working both at home and internationally, he photographed street life, social conditions, and political events with equal sensitivity, often gaining the trust of his subjects through patience and empathy. His images from cities such as London, Paris, and in Korea reveal a photographer attuned not only to dramatic events but to the quiet dignity and resilience of ordinary people. Throughout his career, Hardy remained committed to telling stories through close observation and emotional honesty. His photographs balance journalistic immediacy with warmth and respect, avoiding sensationalism in favour of genuine human connection. Today, Bert Hardy is regarded as one of the great figures of British photojournalism, his work continuing to resonate for its clarity, compassion, and enduring social relevance.
Average Sold Price
$1,020
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"Italian Party" by Bert Hardy

"Italian Party" by Bert Hardy

By Bert Hardy

Located in London, GB

"Italian Party" by Bert Hardy September 1949: A party given by the mayor of Positano for Mercy Haystead (right), an 18-year old London student, on holiday ...

Category

1940s Modern Bert Hardy

Materials

Black and White

Racing Car

Bert HardyRacing Car, 1947

$595

H 20 in W 16 in

Racing Car

By Bert Hardy

Located in London, GB

A driver in his car during a race on the Channel Island of Jersey. Original Publication: Picture Post – 4364 – Road Racing In Jersey – pub. 1947 (Photo Bert Hardy) A beautiful Li...

Category

1940s Bert Hardy

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Messenger Boy

Messenger Boy

By Bert Hardy

Located in London, GB

A young boy employed to carry messages around the council house at New Delhi, seat of the Constituent Assembly, sitting in the sun. Original Publication: Picture Post – 4325 – India:...

Category

1940s Bert Hardy

Materials

Silver Gelatin

"Elegant Ankle" by Bert Hardy

Bert Hardy"Elegant Ankle" by Bert Hardy, 1951

$1,170

H 40 in W 40 in D 0.2 in

"Elegant Ankle" by Bert Hardy

By Bert Hardy

Located in London, GB

"Elegant Ankle" by Bert Hardy Customers sitting on the terrace of a cafe on the Champs-Elysees, Paris, June 1951. Original publication: Picture Post - 5...

Category

1950s Modern Bert Hardy

Materials

Black and White

Last Bus In London by Bert Hardy - Limited Edition silver gelatine print
Last Bus In London by Bert Hardy - Limited Edition silver gelatine print

Last Bus In London by Bert Hardy - Limited Edition silver gelatine print

By Bert Hardy

Located in London, GB

Last Bus In London by Bert Hardy Limited Edition silver gelatine print A couple saying goodbye on a bus in Shaftesbury Avenue in London, July 1953 . Original Publication: Picture Post - 6576 - Known Your Piccadilly - pub. 4th July 1953 (Photo by Bert Hardy/Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Archive London England) Paper size 12x16 inches / 31 x 41 cm Produced utilising the original negative Numbered and stamped by the Getty Archive London Limited edition to 300 only Silver gelatine fibre based baryta paper print Certificate of authenticity included printed 2024 Ships securely from London. Other sizes and Framing available on request. Bert Hardy Bert Hardy Albert William Thomas Hardy (19 May 1913 – 3 July 1995) was an English documentary and press photographer known for his work published in the Picture Post magazine between 1941 and 1957. Life and work Born in Blackfriars, Bert Hardy rose from humble working class origins in Southwark, London. The eldest of seven children, he left school at age 14 to work for a chemist who also processed photos. His first big sale came in 1936 when he photographed King George V and Queen Mary in a passing carriage during the Silver Jubilee celebrations, and sold 200 small prints of his best view of the King. His first assignment, at age 23, was to photograph Hungarian actor Sakall at the Mayfair Hotel. Hardy freelanced for The Bicycle magazine, and bought his first small-format 35 mm Leica. He signed on with the General Photographic Agency as a Leica photographer, later founding his own freelance firm, Criterion. General Photographic Agency General Photographic Agency a Fleet Street, London agency, sold photos at least between 1880-1950. Picture Post and World War II In 1941, Hardy was recruited by the then editor Tom Hopkinson of the leading picture publication of the 1930s to the 1950s, Picture Post. Founded in 1938 and funded by publisher Edward Hulton, the magazine's first editor was Hungarian émigré Stefan Lorant (1901–97) assisted by Hopkinson, who took over as editor from 1940. The picture-centric, left-leaning and reasonably-priced publication was highly successful and circulation soon rose to over a million. Hardy's photographer colleagues included Felix H. Man (aka Hans Baumann...

Category

1950s Modern Bert Hardy

Materials

Silver Gelatin

"Lunch Time" by Bert Hardy

Bert Hardy"Lunch Time" by Bert Hardy, 1955

$1,170

H 40 in W 40 in D 0.2 in

"Lunch Time" by Bert Hardy

By Bert Hardy

Located in London, GB

"Lunch Time" by Bert Hardy Five British models eating lunch in their swimwear on a yacht on the Cote d'Azur. Original Publication: Picture Post - 7850 - Th...

Category

1950s Modern Bert Hardy

Materials

Black and White

"Audrey's Funny Face" by Bert Hardy

"Audrey's Funny Face" by Bert Hardy

By Bert Hardy

Located in London, GB

"Audrey's Funny Face" by Bert Hardy Actress Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993) on the set of the Paramount musical 'Funny Face'. Costumes by Givenchy. Original Publication: Picture Post - 8...

Category

1950s Modern Bert Hardy

Materials

Black and White

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Bert Hardy Sale Prices

Sold DateSold PriceCategoryMediumCreation Year
2025$1,020Figurative Photography, Black and White PhotographyBlack-and-white Print, Silver Gelatin Print1955 (Printed Later)
$1,020
Average sold price of items in the past 12 months
$1,020-$1,020
Sold price range of items in the past 12 months

Artists Similar to Bert Hardy

Bert Hardy art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Bert Hardy art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Bert Hardy in silver gelatin print, paper, photographic paper and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the modern style. Not every interior allows for large Bert Hardy art, so small editions measuring 12 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of John French, Edward Feingersh, and Thurston Hopkins.