This portrait photograph of Helena Rubinstein (bust shot) was taken by the well-known London photographer Rita Martin. The woman is dressed in a light-coloured gown. A long string of coral beads hangs around her neck and her ears are decorated with hanging earrings. Her hair is styled in soft waves, creatively arranged around her head. A dark headband with a pattern - three white crosses - crowns her hairstyle. Helena Rubinstein poses sideways, with her head slightly tilted, looking to the right.
The photograph likely dates from the London period, circa 1908, when Helena Rubinstein was living in the Great Britain after emigrating from Australia. It is possible that the photograph was taken the year before. In London, she established her next beauty salon in Europe. The photograph of Helena Rubinstein was taken in light colours against a white background, which was characteristic of portraits created by the London photographer Rita Martin (the younger sister of the equally-famous photographer Lallie Charles). Rita Martin’s portfolio included many portraits of suffragettes, a group to which she herself belonged.
The photo shows changes not only in the style of portraits but also in fashion which, at that time, preferred slightly more modest, lightweight garments, yet still equally elegant.
The photograph has been affixed to a passe-partout without a cutout, which is provided with a dark-brown cover and a parchment paper insert. On the front of the cover, the name and address of the photographic studio appear - "Rita Martin 74 Baker Street W." Around the photograph, a frame is embossed on the cardboard, emphasising the elegance and romanticism of the photo. Below the photo, on the left side, the photographer's name "Rita Martin" is inscribed in a font styled to resemble handwriting and, on the right side, the address of the studio reads, "74 Baker Street W". On the reverse side, in the lower-left corner, there is a handwritten pencil note: "No 1147.S".
Monika Harchut
