POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Photograph and negative of Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin

Photograph and negative of Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin

Object No. 2004/7/1

This photograph is a very rare informal portrait of Yuri Gagarin taken in his home. It emphasises Gagarin the man, rather than the official Soviet portraits and propaganda images of 'Gagarin the hero' and 'Gagarin the international public figure'. Unlike many posed official 'informal' photographs of Gagarin and his family, this is one of the few photographs of him in civilian clothes in a natural, relaxed manner. Gagarin permitted Valentin Shkolny, who was known to him from his photojournalism work, to visit his home briefly and take this photograph while Shkolny was in Zvezdny Gorodok on another assignment.

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Summary

Object Statement

Photograph and original negative, black and white portrait of Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, paper / acetate film, photographed by Valentin Shkolny Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), 1962 -1963, printed in Australia, 1997

Physical Description

Photographic print: black and white print showing portrait of Yuri Gagarin, first person in space. The picture is a head and shoulders portrait of Gagarin in casual clothes, taken at his home in Zvezdny Gorodok (Star City). It is a rare informal portrait of the cosmonaut. The print is mounted on white standard commercial photographic board surrounded by a matt frame. Negative: black and white negative of the above print made of acetate.

PRODUCTION

Notes

Photograph taken 1962-63 by Valentin Shkolny, prominent Soviet photojournalist. Printed for the first time 1995-1997 from the original negative by the photographer. Shkolny had the negative sent to him in Australia by his wife from his home in the Ukraine, where his collection of personal photographs is stored.

HISTORY

Notes

This photograph was taken by Valentin Shkolny for his personal collection and has never been previously printed or published.

SOURCE

Credit Line

Purchased 2004

Acquisition Date

21 January 2004

Copyright for the above image is held by the Powerhouse and may be subject to third-party copyright restrictions. Please submit an Image Licensing Enquiry for information regarding reproduction, copyright and fees. Text is released under Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivative licence.

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