Cotton, Olive (1911-2003), Tea cup ballet , 1935, photograph, 37.3 x 29.6cm. Image courtesy of Art Gallery of NSW. Gift of the artist: 1980. 218.1980.
Olive Cotton is a pioneer of Australian modernist photography. However, her work is different from the boldness and dramatic compositions of other modernists because it is characterised by a gentleness and tranquility.
Cotton's career lasted more than 6 decades, but was interrupted by a forty year absence from the art scene, despite this, she never stopped taking photos. The commonalities of Olive's work is her use of light and form, observation skills and equal treatment of the subject.her 1935 photograph "Tea cup ballet" is a perfect example of her technique and work.
In 1941, Cotton was asked to manage Dupain's studio while he was called to war service, She accepted and finally worked as a professional photographer, she ran his studio from 1942 to 1945. During this time, her photographic repertoire grew significantly. Commissions included book illustrations, product advertising, portraits and child studies. She also worked for the arts publisher and patron, Sydney Ure Smith.
Bibliography:
- Art-museum.unimelb.edu.au. (2016). Ian Potter Museum of Art - Future Exhibitions. [online] Available at: http://www.art-museum.unimelb.edu.au/exhibitions/future-exhibitions/exhib-date/2016-05-31/exhib/max-and-olive-the-photographic-life-of-olive-cotton-and-max-dupain [Accessed 22 Aug. 2016].
- Australia.gov.au. (2016). Olive Cotton | australia.gov.au. [online] Available at: http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/olive-cotton [Accessed 22 Aug. 2016].
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