In his teenage years, E. O. Hoppé studied fine art and photography in Vienna and Paris. Instead of choosing an arts career he followed his father’s wishes to join the Deutsche Bank that his father managed first in Munich, and later in London. A keen amateur photographer, Hoppé eventually decided to follow his hopes after winning first prize at the Royal Photographic Society. In 1907 he opened his portrait photography studio in Baron’s Court, in 1911 he acquired larger premises in Baker Street, and in 1913 he rented the 32-room house of the late Sir John Millais, opposite the Natural History Museum in South Kensington. Here he had three studios, Millias former painting studio with natural light and two using electric lighting.

Before a portrait session he would study the background of his famous sitters so as to be able to engage them in a lively and intelligent conversation that he hoped would put them at ease. Some of his subjects, Ezra Pound among them, were beyond such tactics as we can see from his imperious, hell-to-pay expression and hair that would defy any order.

Hoppé’s reputation climbed rapidly as he courted and “captured” most of the great figures of the time. Despite competition from other London photographers, it was Hoppé’s work that became the most widely published in the journals of the time.