DOUBLE EXPOSURE

The works of photography pioneers Francesca Woodman and Julia Margaret Cameron are paired in Portraits to Dream In.It's a decision that does neither justice, writes Chloe Ashby

- Chloe Ashby

You could say that artists are a little like flavours – some work together, others don’t. Food journalist Nigel Slater once said, “You can’t really argue with the theory that if you like something then it works, but to experiment with marrying flavours, in a trial-and-error situation like a mad scientist, will not only take forever but will probably lead to some really horrid meals.” Now, I’m not suggesting this exhibition is horrid – on the contrary, there’s a lot to like – but to me the pairing of its protagonists isn’t satisfying.

Francesca Woodman (1958-81) and Julia Margaret Cameron (1815-79) are two of the most influential portrait photographers in art history. Cameron was British, working in Victorian England and then Sri Lanka, Woodman was American, working in Italy and the US. They lived a century apart. Both produced vast amounts of varied art during their brief, concentrated careers (Cameron started late, Woodman died young). Portraits to Dream In at the National Portrait Gallery mixes more than 160 of their soft-focused, monochrome prints.