John Piper
5 of 59 portraits of John Piper
© Walker Evans Archive, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
John Piper
by Walker Evans
gelatin silver print, 1954
13 7/8 in. x 11 in. (352 mm x 278 mm) overall
Purchased, 2015
Primary Collection
NPG P1988
Sitterback to top
- John Egerton Christmas Piper (1903-1992), Artist and writer. Sitter in 59 portraits, Artist or producer of 1 portrait.
This portraitback to top
Evans described his method as ‘photographic art in a documentary style’. His treatment of the American vernacular is here translated in this nuanced study of Piper. Seemingly informal, the image is actually cleverly composed. Half in, half out of the doorway, and with a flair of light across his chest, he is an ethereal presence. The strong light from the window illuminates Piper’s shock of white hair, the shadows lining his expressive face.
Events of 1954back to top
Current affairs
Roger Bannister runs the four-minute mile. Bannister was the first man to achieve the 'miracle mile', a feat that was thought by some to be impossible, beating his rival, the Australian John Landy, to the record. Bannister went on to a career as a distinguished neurologist.Food rationing ends in Britain.
Art and science
J.R.R. Tolkien publishes the first two parts of the Lord of the Rings trilogy: The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers. Tolkien was an Oxford professor of Anglo-Saxon language and literature and drew on his scholarly interests in history, language and mythology to create the fictional land of Middle Earth where the books are set.Williams Golding publishes, Lord of the Flies.
International
The South East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) is established in Bangkok. This international defence organisation was established as part of the 'containment' policy of limiting the influence of communism. SEATO was, however, found to be ineffective as the member organisations failed to agree on combined action; it was disbanded in 1977.Comments back to top
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