These beautiful and evocative photographs of London in 1953 were taken by the Dutch photographer Cas Oorthuys. He began his career as a press photographer for the social democratic weekly Wij (We) in 1936 but after the German invasion he tried to survive by taking portraits for the many forged identity cards needed at the time. In May 1944 he was arrested and sent to the Amersfoort concentration camp. He was released after only three months, and then, as far as the authorities were concerned, he disappeared.
In September 1944 Oorthuys joined the De Ondergedoken Camera, a group of Amsterdam photographers who clandestinely recorded life during the Occupation.The photographs Oorthuys took at this time are his best known.
After the war, perhaps not surprisingly, Oorthuys changed from an overtly political photographer to taking ‘human interest’ pictures.
Shop in Rupert Street
London (1953)
Prince of Wales Theatre
An orderly queue for the number 8 bus at London Bridge Station.
Fleet Street
St Paul’s, 1953
Trafalgar Square at night, 1953
Lombard Street
Bank of England
Trafalgar Square
Pensioners’ Rally, Trafalgar Square
Middle Temple Lane
High Holborn
Outside the Ritz, Piccadilly
Lower Regent Street
Regent Street
Piccadilly Circus
George Tippins newspaper seller, Piccadilly
London pub in 1953
Caledonian Market, 1953
Berwick Street market
Trafalgar Square at night.
Prince of Wales Theatre
Northern Line