1930s Society Women Dressed as Mythological Figures

Yevonde Cumbers Middleton (January 5, 1893 – December 22, 1975) was an English photographer, who pioneered the use of colour in portrait photography. She used the professional name Madame Yevonde.

Yevonde's most famous work was inspired by a theme party held on March 5, 1935, where guests dressed as Roman and Greek gods and goddesses. Yevonde subsequently took studio portraits of many of the participants (and others), in appropriate costume and surrounded by appropriate objects. This series of prints showed Yevonde at her most creative, using colour, costume and props to build an otherworldly air around her subjects. She went on to produce further series based on the signs of the zodiac and the months of the year. Partly influenced by surrealist artists, particularly Man Ray, Yevonde used surprising juxtapositions of objects which displayed her sense of humour.

Madame Yevonde, The Honorable Mrs Bryan Guinness as Venus

Madame Yevonde, Mrs Edward Mayer as Medusa

Madame Yevonde, Mrs Anthony Eden as Clio, the Muse of History

Madame Yevonde, Nadine, Countess of Shrewsbury as Ariadne

Madame Yevonde, Lady Milbanke as Penthelisa, Queen of the Amazons

Madame Yevonde, Mrs Charles Sweeny (Margaret, Duchess of Argyll) as Helen of Troy

Madame Yevonde, Lady Michael Balcon as Minerva

Madame Yevonde, Lady Bridgett Poulett as Arethusa

Madame Yevonde, Eileen Hunter (Mrs Ward Jackson) as Dido

Madame Yevonde, Lady Anne Rhys poses as the goddess Flora

Madame Yevonde, Baroness Gagern as Europa

Madame Yevonde, Dorothy, Duchess of Welington as Hecate

Madame Yevonde, Mrs Richard Hart-Davis as Ariel

(via)