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John Gay

(1909-1999), Photographer

Sitter in 5 portraits
Artist of 295 portraits
Born Hans Gohler in Karlsrühe. He left Germany in 1933, and moved to England where he settled in Yorkshire and found work as a photographer. In 1939 he joined the Pioneer Corps with whom he served throughout Word War II. He decided to change his name to John Gay, after the poet and dramatist of Beggar's Opera fame. From 1942 he based himself in Highgate, London, and worked as a professional photographer. His work encompassed regular contributions to Country Fair and the photo-essays in The Strand magazine for which he also produced a number of portraits of literary personalities in the 1940s. He was celebrated as a photographer of railway stations, graveyards and country scenes.

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Martha Stern, by John Gay - NPG x128503

Martha Stern

by John Gay
quarter-plate glass negative, 1940s
NPG x128503

Sir Stanley Unwin, by John Gay - NPG x127762

Sir Stanley Unwin

by John Gay
2 1/4 inch square film negative, published November 1947
NPG x127762

Graham Greene; Douglas Francis Jerrold, by John Gay - NPG x127763

Graham Greene; Douglas Francis Jerrold

by John Gay
2 1/4 inch square film negative, published November 1947
NPG x127763

Sir Victor Gollancz, by John Gay - NPG x127764

Sir Victor Gollancz

by John Gay
2 1/4 inch square film negative, published November 1947
NPG x127764

Sir Allen Lane, by John Gay - NPG x127765

Sir Allen Lane

by John Gay
2 1/4 inch square film negative, published November 1947
NPG x127765

Sir Geoffrey Cust Faber, by John Gay - NPG x127766

Sir Geoffrey Cust Faber

by John Gay
2 1/4 inch square film negative, published November 1947
NPG x127766

Alexander Stuart Frere (né Reeves), by John Gay - NPG x127767

Alexander Stuart Frere (né Reeves)

by John Gay
2 1/4 inch square film negative, published November 1947
NPG x127767

Billy Collins, by John Gay - NPG x127768

Billy Collins

by John Gay
2 1/4 inch square film negative, published November 1947
NPG x127768

Desmond John Newman Flower, by John Gay - NPG x127769

Desmond John Newman Flower

by John Gay
2 1/4 inch square film negative, published November 1947
NPG x127769

Marianne Straub, by John Gay - NPG x200987

Marianne Straub

by John Gay
2 1/4 inch square film negative, circa 1947
NPG x200987

Margaret Leischner, by John Gay - NPG x200982

Margaret Leischner

by John Gay
2 1/4 inch square film negative, circa 1947
NPG x200982

Margaret Leischner, by John Gay - NPG x200983

Margaret Leischner

by John Gay
2 1/4 inch square film negative, circa 1947
NPG x200983

Margaret Leischner, by John Gay - NPG x200984

Margaret Leischner

by John Gay
2 1/4 inch square film negative, circa 1947
NPG x200984

Margaret Leischner, by John Gay - NPG x200985

Margaret Leischner

by John Gay
2 1/4 inch square film negative, circa 1947
NPG x200985

Margaret Leischner, by John Gay - NPG x200986

Margaret Leischner

by John Gay
2 1/4 inch square film negative, circa 1947
NPG x200986

Lucienne Day (née Conradi), by John Gay - NPG x200988

Lucienne Day (née Conradi)

by John Gay
2 1/4 inch square film negative, circa 1947
NPG x200988

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