Maxwell Spencer (Max) Dupain Australia, 1911-92

Max Dupain (1911-1992) was Australia's most celebrated and influential photographer of the 20th century. He was born in Sydney, where he lived and worked all his life. He received his first camera as a gift at the age of 13, and began his professional career as a commercial photographer in the early 1930s. Dupain was a master of black-and-white photography, and his work is known for its sharp focus, geometric compositions, and dramatic lighting. He photographed a wide range of subjects, including landscapes, architecture, industry, fashion, and people. He is perhaps best known for his iconic images of Australian beach culture, such as Sunbaker (1937) and Girl Standing on Beach (1938). Dupain's work was also important in documenting Australia's changing social and cultural landscape in the postwar era. He photographed the construction of the Sydney Opera House, the growth of Australian industry, and the rise of the new middle class. He also photographed many of Australia's most prominent artists and intellectuals, including Dame Joan Sutherland, Sidney Nolan, and Patrick White. Dupain's work has been exhibited extensively around the world, and is held in the collections of major museums such as the National Gallery of Australia, the Tate Modern, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He was awarded the Order of Australia in 1987, and the Order of the British Empire in 1992. Max Dupain passed away in 1992.

Max Dupain is one of the most prolific of the artists listed in our database, with the number of works offered for sale by auction since 1986 of 2,051, of which 1,579 (77%) were sold. The highest price recorded for the artist is $105,400 for Sunbaker 1937 sold by Mossgreen Auctions in June 2016. This year 3 works have been offered for sale. Works by Max Dupain are held by the Art Gallery of NSW, National Gallery of Australia and a further nine major public national galleries (see list below).