Untitled, circa 1935 – 1939. Marion Kirker. Gift of Anne Kirker, 1993. Te Papa
Sometimes there is little information about some of the photographs in the collection. I love this image. It was taken in the 1930s by Marion Kirker (1879-1971). Yet I wonder: who is the man? Is it his cat? Why photograph them? What is the cat looking at?
The man seems to be holding onto the cat to stop it getting away, and yet he looks straight at the camera clearly aware of the intent of recording the moment. It seems the idea of having this image taken is important to him – or maybe he just wanted to please the photographer?
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At least they both look happy
that cat has the best striped jodphurs – that’s what he wanted us to enjoy.
Anne Kirker (previously Senior Curator, New Zealand Art at the National Art Gallery and author of New Zealand Women Artists) gifted this photograph to the collection. It is a photograph made by her aunt, Marion Kirker, in London, using a professional photographer’s model. Both Anne and her aunt were crazy about cats, hence the niece being given the photo.
Hi Linda – yes, the photograph is one of many Anne gave the museum by her aunt. It is an lovely collection. I’m curious that you say the man was a “professional photographer’s model” – what is meant by that?
cheers
Lissa
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[...] while back I posted Marion Queenie Kirker’s image of a ‘nodding cat’. Recently the rest of her negatives were scanned and uploaded to the museum’s [...]