9 OF 51 
Bill Brandt
9 of 51 portraits matching these criteria:
- set matching 'The Great British: by Arnold Newman'
© Arnold Newman / Getty Images
Share this
Bill Brandt
by Arnold Newman
bromide print, 1978
9 in. x 7 1/2 in. (229 mm x 191 mm)
Given by The Sunday Times, 1980
Primary Collection
NPG P150(9)
Sitterback to top
- Bill Brandt (1904-1983), Photographer. Sitter in 34 portraits, Artist or producer of 120 portraits.
Artistback to top
- Arnold Newman (1918-2006), Photographer. Artist or producer of 62 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.
Linked publicationsback to top
- Perry, George, The Great British: Photographs by Arnold Newman, 1979 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 30 November 1979 - 11 May 1980), p. 33
- Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 73
Events of 1978back to top
Current affairs
The country is brought to a virtual standstill as workers in the private and public sector strike over the government's decision to restrict wage increases. As more workers joined the strikes rubbish piled up in the streets, petrol stations ran short, and storage space had to be hired for unburied coffins. The period became known as the 'winter of discontent'.Art and science
Louise Brown from Oldham in Greater Manchester becomes the world's first 'test-tube baby'. The 'in vitro' fertilisation procedure was a scientific breakthrough that has given thousands of infertile couples the opportunity to conceive.Iris Murdoch wins the Booker prize with her novel. The Sea, the Sea.
International
Karol Józef Wojtyla becomes Pope John Paul II. He was the only Polish Pope and the first non-Italian Pontiff since the 16th century. During his 26-year pontificate, John Paul was recognised for his efforts to reach out to other religions and his fight against poverty and oppression. He has also, however, been criticised for his conservative attitudes towards divorce, contraception, homosexual marriage and the ordination of women priests.Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.
James Bell
27 May 2022, 05:23
This image was shot with Polaroid film. It was a radical innovation, in that it was shot with Polaroid's newest product a 10x8 inch instant film.
I had done some projects as well as some advertising work for them, so they gave me some ID that described me as their assigned photographer. Which is why, when Arnold agreed to use their new !0x8 film, they asked me to be their contact guy.
I went to introduce my self to Arnold, a day early. This was just as well, because he was not happy. He had expected to be in possession of at least a dozen sheets of the new 'wonder film' and nothing had arrived. I had no idea what was wrong, but I did have the right phone numbers, so I told some of the senior team at HQ that a crisis was looming.
During the course of that evening, I had the unhappy task of telling Arnold that the film that had been promised by Polaroid USA could not be found. But they would get all the European stock from Amsterdam and have it couriered to London over night.
Deadlines came and went. Arnold's flash point also came and went. the cars were loaded with a ton of kit and late the following morning, we headed off to Bill Brandt's flat. with some pretty sulphurous suggestions about the film catching up with us or else.
Bill Brandt was utterly charming. Things started well, Arnold and Bill making complimentary remarks about each others work. In the meantime Arnold's assistant and I hauled up the kit and began to set up.
Polaroid had not stinted at all, we had the latest and best 10x8 Sinar that could be hired. I had never set hands on one before and neither had the assistant. Fortunately it was sufficiently close to the 5x4 system that we were able to wing it. They had also provided the latest Balcar flash that neither of us had seen before and had no idea how to use the complex splitter box that drove the thing.
We were now at crisis point. Bill, always the soul of charm, was fading fast ad did not look well. Arnold had begun getting some safety shots on his own cameras. A sharp knock on the door announced the arrival of the film.
The film was pre loaded, but needed a separate processing area. so we set up in the bedroom. this meant we had to dash through rooms filled with priceless objects, across floors festooned with slippery rugs. Bill did not look happy or well.
Arnold shot off the the 10x8 film and they looked brilliant. He said 'I think we've got it Ill do one more shot' triggered the shutter and the flash. There was a loud bang and a haze of blue smoke as we blew every fuse in the flat.
Arnold declared that he was taking the great man out for lunch, he hissed at us 'fix it'. And that was the last I ever saw of Bill Brandt.