A little-known version of Max Dupain's iconic sunbaker is on public display for the first time at the State Library of NSW.
"Other Sunbaker", the little-known precursor to Max Dupain's iconic Australian image, has been donated to the State Library of NSW via the Cultural Gifts Program. The image, which shows the famous sunbaker in a slightly different pose to the iconic photo that came to symbolise the archetypal "bronzed Aussie", was Dupain's preferred image of the two.
Alan Davies, Curator of Photographs for the State Library, described the image as, "The Holy Grail of Australian photography".
"It places for the first time the nation's most iconic photograph 'The Sunbaker', in all of its versions, in the context in which it was taken in 1937."
The rare image shows the subject's hands clasped together and was published just once in 1948 in Hal Missingham's Max Dupain: Photographs. All known prints, made between 1975 and 1991 during its prevalence, were taken from the second negative — showing the subject's right hand relaxed.
"Other Sunbaker" was donated by Tony Vandyke as part of The Camping Album, compiled by his father Chris — an architect and close friend of the artist.
"The State Library is a natural home for dad's album and we're thrilled it can finally be shared with the public and preserved for the future," explained Tony.
The Camping Album contains 108 photographs taken by Dupain and his future wife Olive Cotton, including portraits of themselves and friends, humorous images of camping life, and landscapes of the Culburra Beach area on the NSW South Coast.
"The album is a fantastic addition to the Library's extensive Max Dupain collection," saids Alan Davies. The collection also includes an album sent by Dupain's to his friend Damien Parer during WWII.
"Having these two albums of such a personal nature by Australia's most famous 20th century photographer is just extraordinary," he said.
Both The Camping Album and The Damien Parer Album are now on display at the State Library's AMAZE Gallery, Macquarie Street, Sydney.
For further information, contact: (02) 9273 1414 or visit www.sl.nsw.gov.au
The "other" sunbaker. Max Dupain, 1937. (Courtesy State Library of NSW.)
The Damien Parer Album (left) and The Camping Album. Photos by Max Dupain.(Courtesy State Library of NSW.)
