Gwen Stallard
- Artist: Unknown photographer
- Date: 1932
- Medium: gelatin silver print
- Dimensions: 7 1/2 in. x 5 1/2 in. (192 mm x 139 mm) image size
- Portrays: Gwen Stallard
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is “Gwen Stallard,” a small gelatin‑silver print taken in January 1932. In the frame you see a young woman’s face framed by a soft, almost painterly light that lets her eyes shine through. The photograph is about 7½ inches wide and 5½ inches tall—just enough to capture details without overwhelming the eye.
The sitter, Gwen Stallard, was a London model who won Miss Britain in 1932. A caption beside the image says: “Miss Britain of 1932 is Miss Gwen Stallard…” and notes that she later became Miss Europe. The photo captures her poised posture and simple, elegant dress—typical of early‑’30s portraiture.
Being a gelatin silver print gives the image its rich tonal range, with subtle shadows and crisp highlights that were hallmarks of early colour photography. The work sits in the Photographs Collection, donated by Terence Pepper in 2014, and reflects how models of the era were presented in studio snapshots for national titles.
See it in person
Gwen Stallard is in the collection of The National Portrait Gallery at St Martin's Place, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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