Lena Connell

Lena Connell, also known professionally as Beatrice Cundy, was a British photographer who left her mark on both the fight for women’s suffrage and the art of portraiture. Born Adelin Beatrice Connell in 1875, her life and career intertwined with the feminist movement of the early 20th century.

Lena’s photographic journey began by assisting her father in his business. This experience honed her skills, preparing her to take over the business and then launch her own studio, which she ran until 1922. Notably, Connell employed female staff, a progressive move at a time when photography was largely a male-dominated field. She was said to the first female photographer to have male sitters.

Lena became interested in the cause of women’s suffrage after photographing some of its leading figures. She was a member of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), a militant group campaigning for women’s right to vote. Her portraits are powerful testaments to the resilience and determination of the suffragettes.

As a skilled portraitist, Lena’s clientele included prominent figures from the theatre world, such as Ellen Terry and Cicely Hamilton. Her portraits show her ability to capture personality and emotion and were exhibited at the Royal Photographic Society in 1910-1911. Her work is still admired today, with some of her portraits held by the National Portrait Gallery in London

 Lena Connell’s life and work offer a fascinating glimpse into the early 20th century. She was a woman who defied convention, using her camera to advocate for change while establishing herself as a successful photographer. Lena’s legacy reminds us of the power of photography to not only document history but also to shape our understanding of it. The National Portrait Gallery holds 20 of Lena’s portraits in its collection, available to view online here.

By Harper Black

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Photographers Norah Lyle-Smith and Christina Broom likewise documented the suffragette movement.