Lenglen

The press photograph Lenglen depicts the French tennis player Suzanne Rachel Flore Lenglen (1899–1938), one of the greatest sporting stars of the 1920s. The image is part of the Bain News Service photographic collection and is preserved as a glass negative at the Library of Congress.According to the library’s catalogue, Lenglen won 31 championship titles between 1914 and 1926 and became internationally known by the name La Divine. Here, the celebrated player is given a focused, intimate portrait in the direct visual language of black-and-white press photography. The soft greyscale tones and simple composition lend the photograph a distinct graphic character, while also carrying the spirit of an era when athletes began to emerge as global cultural figures.Photographer: Bain News Service.Frame not included.Please note that the images are cropped slightly differently depending on the size you choose. Read more about image and print quality here: FAQ.