Howard Coster | |
---|---|
Born | 1885 |
Died | 1959 |
Nationality | British |
Occupation | Portrait photographer |
Howard Sydney Musgrave Coster (1885–1959) was a British photographer, opening a London studio in 1926. He was a self-styled 'Photographer of Men'.
In 1925 Carter opened a studio at 8 and 9 Essex Street, 51°30′47″N 0°06′47″W / 51.513°N 0.113°W, off the Strand. Unusually, his studio was dedicated solely to the photography of men, following the example of the American photographer Pirie MacDonald, and he became known as "the photographer of men". His business was successful from the start and by the end of the year Coster had undertaken several commissions for portraits of successful writers, including John Galsworthy, J. B. Priestley, as well as one of his most iconic images, A. A. Milne with his son Christopher Robin Milne and Pooh Bear, at Cotchford Farm, 51°05′24″N 0°06′25″E / 51.090°N 0.107°E, their home in Sussex.
The UK National Portrait Gallery holds five portraits of Coster, one by Eric Gill. There are over 9000 portraits by Coster in their collection, including those of G. K. Chesterton, Aldous Huxley, and the image of A.A. Milne with his son Christopher Robin mentioned above. A retrospective was held in 1985.