Melbourne post-war photography

A companion to the State Library of Victoria's 'As modern as tomorrow' exhibition. Includes images held in our Pictures Collection and links to external sites. Explores individual photographers and photographic styles.

International influences

In the mid-20th century, Melbourne was shaped by modernist influences from abroad. This period saw an influx of people from Europe, including Wolfgang Sievers, Helmut Newton and Henry Talbot.

They brought with them a modern aesthetic and new skills from their training at influential schools such as Berlin’s Reimann School and Contempora School of Applied Arts.

 

Female employees constructing cars at Ford Motor Company, Geelong, Wolfgang Sievers, 1951, H98.30/21

Female employees constructing cars at Ford Motor Company, Geelong, Wolfgang Sievers, 1951, H98.30/21

 

Professional associations

Institute of Victorian Photographers' Exhibition at Gallery 'A', Toorak Rd, South Yarra, Vic, 1963,  H2003.100/637.

Institute of Victorian Photographers' Exhibition at Gallery 'A', Toorak Rd, South Yarra, Vic, 1963,  H2003.100/637.

The Melbourne Camera Club had several professional members including  Wolfgang Sievers, H. Dacre Stubbs and Norman Ikin.

Model Vali Myers, Norman Ikin, 1955, H2007.114/222

Photographic timeline

Young child using a camera H83.314/2

Young child using a camera H83.314/2

Photographic film

Film from camera film RAAF H98.100/3919

Film from camera film RAAF H98.100/3919

Modernist photography

Night shots of Melbourne H2011.62/154a

Night shots of Melbourne H2011 62 154a