item details
Kate Coolahan; artist; 1952
Overview
Description
Preliminary concept drawing for 'The Influential Woolens. Preview: The wool fabric show '52' brochure. Drawing features the hand-lettered headline 'The Newest Thing You Cavear', and illustrations of a woman wearing a hat, glove, polar neck, and open collared dress belted at the waist, and four fabric swatches, one of which is labelled 'Poodle Cloth'. Squiggled lines stand in for text copy. Drawing is rendered in black, green and mustard yellow. A strip of yellowed adhesive tape runs down the centre.
Significance
This illustration was created during the development of an advertising brochure for'The Influential Woollens. Preview: The Wool Fabric Show of '52' by Sydney department store, Farmer Co.
The illustration is by Kate Coolahan who secured a position as an illustrator in the art department of Farmer Co in 1950, after graduating from the East Sydney Technical College. She was one of 125 artists employed by the store. Coolahan designed a wide range of material for the store, including wrapping paper, packaging, promotional brochures and advertising campaigns. During her time at Farmers, she demonstrated a particular flair for fashion illustration.
The final The Influential Woollens brochure advertises newly imported woollen fabrics from Britian and sewing patterns.In the final version theheadline reads 'The Influential Woollens' rather than 'The Newest Thing You Cavear'.
Te Papa Archive holds a number of examples of the final brochure, and related preparatory artwork.