Purse in hand (2)
March 16, 2013
Woman checking her purse, Whitechapel Road 1983
As a child it was understood that you would never look in your mothers purse. I remember my mother asking me to fetch her purse on a number of occasions; each time I would deliver it unopened. Somehow a purse was a deeply personal, as well as utilitarian, accessory. Only the owner of the purse could unleash its power. These photographs are my homage to the purse.
Woman with a purse, Brick Lane 1986
Woman looking into her purse, Cheshire Street 1989
Barcelona 2005
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You are so right. I would never have dreamed of opening my mother’s purse on pain of a smack but it never entered my head it was even possible. I still have one of my late mother’s purses on a shelf and of course it remains closed. If I need something out of Sue’s purse I hand it to her despite her saying that it is fine and to help myself ( it is never money!) I guess old habits die hard
Philip I remember we would never have dared to go into mum’s purse – I am exactly the same – my purse is sacred !!! must remember to tell Denis that though….