James Callaghan
- Artist: David Newell-Smith
- Date: circa 1970
- Medium: gelatin silver print
- Dimensions: 12 in. x 15 in. (306 mm x 380 mm) overall
- Portrays: James Callaghan, Baron Callaghan of Cardiff
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is a gelatin silver print titled “James Callaghan.” You can see the figure framed neatly in 12 by 15 inches, with fine black‑and‑white tones that give the portrait a crisp, almost photographic quality. The image captures Callaghan’s profile and expression in a quiet, poised pose—typical of a headshot from the early 1970s.
The medium is gelatin silver, which was common for high‑resolution prints before color film took over; it lends a subtle depth to the skin tones and line work that makes this photograph feel almost tactile. The photographer, David Newell‑Smith, was known for producing 91 portraits during his career; he captured Callaghan as one of 22 portraits in his series.
Callaghan himself was Labour Prime Minister from 1976 to 1979, a period marked by economic recession and industrial militancy. Earlier, as Home Secretary under Harold Wilson, he had deployed troops to Northern Ireland—a fact that adds weight to the image’s timing. The print was given to us by Sonya Newell‑Smith in 2018, making it part of the Photographs Collection at the National Portrait Gallery.
See it in person
James Callaghan 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.
