What happens when a photographer plans to shoot swimsuits outdoors and it rains?, 1963
Photograph
1963 (photographed)
1963 (photographed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
John Cowan was a leading fashion photographer in the 1960s. His photographs epitomised the playful, graphically dynamic style of commercial photography practised in London during the period. His partnership with model and photographer Jill Kennington sparked an exciting period of high-octane image-making for numerous magazines.
This photograph, a fashion study for the Daily Mirror, shows Jill Kennington in a bikini from Galeries Lafayette, standing on a table at the World’s End pub on Chelsea’s King’s Road. Although this was London’s most fashionable street during the 1960s, Cowan here revels in the contrast between the model’s youth, beauty and energy and the traditional scene of men playing cards over a pint of beer.
This photograph, a fashion study for the Daily Mirror, shows Jill Kennington in a bikini from Galeries Lafayette, standing on a table at the World’s End pub on Chelsea’s King’s Road. Although this was London’s most fashionable street during the 1960s, Cowan here revels in the contrast between the model’s youth, beauty and energy and the traditional scene of men playing cards over a pint of beer.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | What happens when a photographer plans to shoot swimsuits outdoors and it rains?, 1963 (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Gelatin-silver print |
| Brief description | Cowan, John. 'What happens when a photographer plans to shoot swimsuits outdoors and it rains?', Britain (Chelsea), 1963. Fashion study for the Daily Mirror, 1963. |
| Physical description | Black and white photograph of a young blonde woman in a stripey bikini standing on a table surrounded by six men, interrupting their card game. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Gunilla Mitchell |
| Object history | John Cowan was a leading fashion photographer in the 1960s. His photographs epitomised the playful, graphically dynamic style of commercial photography practised in London during the period. His partnership with Jill Kennington sparked an exciting period of high-octane image making for numerous magazines. Cowan's work, with that of Ron Traeger and Michael Cooper was exhibted at the V&A in the 1999 exhibition 'Triple Exposure: three photographers of the '60s'. This exhibition was more recently toured by Fondacion La Caixa around regional venues in Spain. Key images from Cowan's oeuvre shown in the exhibition were selected by Charlotte Cotton for the national collection and given to the V&A by Cowan's estate holders. These will boost our holdings of fashion photography and act as a record of his successful exhibition and tour. The model is Jill Kennington for the shoot 'What happens when a photographer plans to shoot swimsuits outdoors and it rains?' which took place at the World's End pub, King's Road, Chelsea. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | John Cowan was a leading fashion photographer in the 1960s. His photographs epitomised the playful, graphically dynamic style of commercial photography practised in London during the period. His partnership with model and photographer Jill Kennington sparked an exciting period of high-octane image-making for numerous magazines. This photograph, a fashion study for the Daily Mirror, shows Jill Kennington in a bikini from Galeries Lafayette, standing on a table at the World’s End pub on Chelsea’s King’s Road. Although this was London’s most fashionable street during the 1960s, Cowan here revels in the contrast between the model’s youth, beauty and energy and the traditional scene of men playing cards over a pint of beer. |
| Bibliographic reference | Triple exposure: 3 photographers from the 60s. Ron Traeger. Michael Cooper. John Cowan, V&A, 1999
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.3005-2004 |
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| Record created | May 19, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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