Cathy's Art Diary

Nice exhibition at the National Theatre to celebrate the centenary of the birth of the photographer Norman Parkinson. It covered both his portrait and fashion work from the classic 1950s pictures of his wife through to lovely 1960s portraits. It didn’t really follow themes but did present lovely images. Favourites were a great picture of Maggie Smith in a red dress with heavy blue eye make up,   one of John Piper against a flint wall and a clever one of Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen face to face with the Ghirlandaio portrait in his collection.

Nice little exhibition at Somerset House to mark the publication of a new book on the photographer Norman Parkinson. Concentrating on portraiture the exhibition ranged from the 1930s to the 1980s and included many fashion shots. I loved the ones which had established the classic 195os new look. There were also picture which were just good fun like two models standing on the backs of donkeys at Blackpool!