Elsie Janis in 'Hullo, America'
- Artist: Malcolm Arbuthnot (Malcolm Lewin Stockdale Parson)
- Date: 1918
- Medium: matte bromide postcard print
- Dimensions: 5 1/2 in. x 3 1/2 in. (140 mm x 88 mm) overall
- Portrays: Elsie Janis
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
In this 1918 matte bromide postcard print you see Elsie Janis in full costume, her face turned slightly toward the viewer, a small but vivid portrait that feels like an instant snapshot. The matte finish gives the image a subtle flatness, while the fine bromide paper holds sharp details of her embroidered jacket and feathered hat. The composition is tight: the background is plain, letting her pose and costume dominate.
Malcolm Arbuthnot made this print in his own studio, using the popular postcard format to reach a wide audience. Janis, an American music‑hall performer, appeared in eight such portraits over her career. In 1918, just as World War I was raging, she used these images to help boost recruitment for the United States, bringing her charm into the war effort.
The small size—just five and a half inches wide by three and a half tall—means you can hold it close and appreciate every stitch and shadow. The print is part of the National Portrait Gallery’s photograph collection and was bequeathed to us in 2010.
See it in person
Elsie Janis in 'Hullo, America' is in the collection of The National Portrait Gallery at St Martin's Place, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
