Portfolio: John Kasmin has collected postcards of beggars from around the world
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference."Beggars made good subjects for cards," explains the Bond Street gallerist John Kasmin of the reason these motley sorts adorn myriad postcards he has collected from around the world. "Exaggerated characters or heartstring-pullers, they knew how to pose, how to present the face, the posture of neediness, dereliction, despair – it was their livelihood, this ability."
Kasmin, whose gallery was at the centre of the 1960s art scene and has represented artists from David Hockney to Anthony Caro ever since, believes that these down-and-outs proved so popular on postcards – "sent by the hundreds of millions worldwide, bearing messages between friends and families" – partly because they imply a certain "schadenfreude… We (sender and receiver) celebrate our superiority, poor though we may be."
There is also, however, a technical reason for the prevalence of the panhandler: willing to sit for the long exposures made with plate cameras, they made perfect models; and it is clear from the examples here that there is a dignity in their poses – nowhere more so than in the case of "Marmalade" Emma and Teddy Grimes (bottom far right).
The duo were Colchester's most famous mendicants in the early 20th century, scrounging for all they had – yet, grandly dressed, they have the air of an aristocratic couple on their uppers, their eyes burrowing into the viewer, almost challenging us to give them the respect they feel they deserve.
'Want: Kasmin's Postcards' by John Kasmin is published on 24 September by Royal Academy Publications, and distributed by Thames & Hudson, priced £9.99
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments