Bette Davis 1936 Mountain Ranch Portrait Black and White Photography Print

Soft sunlight washes over the high desert landscape, catching the texture of the weathered wooden fence where a young starlet takes a moment of rest. This 1936 Elmer Fryer photograph captures Bette Davis in a rare, informal setting, trading her studio glamour for a plaid work shirt and dark trousers.

About Bette Davis

Bette Davis (1908–1989) was a two-time Oscar winner famous for All About Eve. A great celebrity portrait reveals something about the person behind the public image. The original image dates from 1936. Without colour, a photograph relies on contrast, texture and composition, which is why black and white feels timeless.

Styling this Bette Davis photograph

Black-and-white tones give this Bette Davis photograph a moody character that holds a room. Its tall format suits narrow walls, hallways and the space beside a doorway in a home office, with 18×24″ a versatile middle size. Black and white suits any palette, so this Bette Davis photograph is easy to place; finish it with a slim black frame and a white mat. Build a gallery wall around this Bette Davis photograph: add two or three smaller prints that echo its black-and-white and keep the gaps to 2–3 inches.

At a glance

• Type: Bette Davis photograph
• Featuring: Bette Davis
• Year: 1936
• Style: Vintage glamour, Celebrity portraits
• Colours: black-and-white
• Mood: moody
• Subject: Portraiture, Mountains
• Orientation: portrait
• Collections: Black and White Photography Prints, Bette Davis Prints, Celebrity Portrait Photography