Art Exhibition: Jane Bown - Irish Portraits

Jane Bown’s temperament suited the gentler rhythm of a Sunday newspaper, and she didn’t like change. Throughout her almost six decades at The Observer, even when she had become quite famous, her pattern never altered. Fridays and Saturdays in the office as Jane Bown and the rest of the week at home in the home counties where she went by her married name, Mrs Moss. On assignment she would usually accompany a staff writer and was expected to take the portrait either before, after or during the interview.

Given The Observer ’s standing and overtly liberal ethos, her subjects were, by and large, luminaries of the day. Jane liked to refer to herself as a ‘hack’ by which I think she meant that she could master any conditions, however adverse. ‘Light and time are my only enemies’ was one of her favourite mantras. Throughout a long and distinguished career, she never returned from an assignment empty-handed.

Europa Gallery

11 Chatham Street

Dublin 2

Exhibition runs from 22/07 - 29/08/2026

Open Monday – Friday 09h30 – 17h00 / Weekends 12h00-18h00

Image: Sinéád O’Connor © Jane Bown Estate