Photo archive
Virginia Woolf
English writer and central figure of literary modernism; lived 1882–1941.
Revolution & Modern Icons
Based on surviving lifetime photographs
Polishing the portrait...
English writer and central figure of literary modernism.
Life and work
Woolf wrote novels, essays, diaries, and criticism that reshaped modern prose and interior narration. Her work remains central to twentieth-century literature.
Why it matters
Several lifetime photographs preserve her appearance across different moments of her public and private life.
Visual source note
Based on surviving lifetime photographs
Image basis: George Charles Beresford photograph.
Sourcesshow
National Portrait Gallery, Virginia Woolf by George Charles Beresford
strong appearance evidence / photograph
Open sourceNational Portrait Gallery, Virginia Woolf by Man Ray
strong appearance evidence / photograph
Open source