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Photograph of Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin taken by Valentin Shkolny
Object No. 2004/7/2
This portrait is an interesting example of an 'informal' version of an official Soviet photograph of Yuri Gagarin. Propaganda images of Gagarin surrounded by admiring crowds of adults and/or children are common and this photograph was taken by Shkolny while he was photographing Gagarin's reception at Zukhovsky Air Force Base following his return from a goodwill tour. In addition to his 'official' images of the crowd of children welcoming Gagarin, Shkolny snapped this shot of Gagarin in an unguarded moment, showing his unfeigned delight in being with the children. Gagarin, by reputation, was very fond of children and this image emphasises Gagarin the man, as distinct from his more formal persona of 'Gagarin the hero' or 'Gagarin the international public figure'.
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Summary
Object Statement
Photograph and original negative, black and white , Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin surrounded by children, taken by Valentin Shkolny, paper / acetate film, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), 1962 (printed Australia 1997)
Physical Description
Photograph: black and white print produced from original negative showing Yuri Gagarin, first person in space, surrounded by children. This picture shows Gagarin in his military uniform smiling delightedly as he is mobbed by children. The picture was taken at Zukhovsky Air Force Base following Gagarin's return from a goodwill visit. The children are said to be those of his cosmonaut colleagues. The print is mounted on a standard commercial photographic board surrounded by a matt white frame. Negative: black and white negative of the above photograph on 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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