Laurence Le Guay

(Australia 25 Dec 1916–02 Feb 1990)

Title

Untitled (Fashion queue with masked child)

Year

1960

Media category

Photograph

Materials used

gelatin silver photograph, vintage

Dimensions

32.0 x 56.3cm image/sheet

Signature & date

Signed c. verso, ink "Le Guay". Not dated.

Credit

Purchased 1978

Accession number

123.1978

Location

Not on display

Further information

‘Untitled (fashion queue with masked child)’ is one of Le Guay’s most famous images, demonstrating his flair in finding witty and original ways of showcasing fashion. The photograph was part of a campaign for the wool manufacturer Villawool, and appeared under the caption, ‘Villawool goes to town’. Shot at a city bus stop, the queue parodies the line-up of the catwalk parade and also plays on the idea of the fashionable woman ‘being seen’ about town. Le Guay’s constructive and amusing approach contrasts models with children playing, businessmen and ordinary working women.

Bibliography (9)

Judy Annear, Discipline and Beauty - women, fashion, photography 1997, Sydney, 1997. no catalogue numbers

Robyn Daw (Curator), Architects of Glamour + Masters of Style: Excerpts from a Century of Fashion Photography 2003, 2003. no catalogue numbers

Alexandra Joel, Parade: The story of fashion in Australia, Pymble, 1998, cover and frontispiece (illus.). This text was initially published in 1984 by Collins, titled "Best dressed".

Ewen McDonald (Editor), The Art Gallery of New South Wales collections, 'From Colonialism to late Modernism', pg. 7-106, Sydney, 1994, 59 (illus.).

Robert McFarlane, Critic's Choice 1994, Sydney, 1994. no catalogue numbers

Gael Newton, Silver and Grey - Fifty Years of Australian Photography 1900-1950, 1980. plate no. 117

Wendy Symonds (Editor), Look Jul 1998, Heidelberg, Jul 1998, 23 (illus.).

Nicola Teffer, Photography: Art Gallery of New South Wales Collection, 'Fashion and celebrity', pg.169-187, Sydney, 2007, 171 (illus.), 182 (illus.).

Editor Unknown (Editor), The Australian financial review 1998, The AFR solves an art gallery mystery, Sydney, 1998, 51 (illus.).

Exhibition history (5)

Shades of Light, National Gallery of Australia, Australia, 1988–1988

Critic's Choice, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 22 Apr 1994–10 Jul 1994

Discipline and Beauty, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 28 Jun 1997–17 Aug 1997

On Location: Sydney, Museum of Sydney, Sydney, 08 Dec 2001–31 Mar 2002

Architects of Glamour + Masters of Style: excepts from a century of fashion photography, Queensland University of Technology Art Museum, Brisbane, 27 Jun 2003–07 Sep 2003