# Men's Wear

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For clothing for men, see [Fashion](/source/Fashion). For the musical group, see [Menswear (band)](/source/Menswear_(band)).

***Men's Wear*** is a [1953](/source/1953_in_art) painting by Australian artist [John Brack](/source/John_Brack). The painting depicts the interior of a menswear store, including the proprietor and some [mannequins](/source/Mannequin), standing in front of displays of ties and trousers. A mirror in the background reflects a silhouette of the artist.[1]

It seems to be a simple image of an ordinary shop, but its simplicity is deceptive. There’s a complex interaction of lines of sight, for a start; and the jokey inclusion of the silhouetted figure opens up the interior space to the space outside the shop, outside the pictorial space even. And there’s a play - inspired, perhaps, by [Magritte](/source/Magritte) - between man, mannequin and silhouette that creates ambiguity. It’s a sort of surrealism of the high street.

— Kitty Hauser

Brack painted the work while he was Art Master at [Melbourne Grammar School](/source/Melbourne_Grammar_School). It is one of a series of paintings, including *The Barber's Shop* (1952) and *The Fish Shop* (1955) of small [high street](/source/High_street) businesses.[2]

The painting was acquired by the [National Gallery of Australia](/source/National_Gallery_of_Australia) in 1982 and is now part of its Australian Art collection.

## References

1. Wilson, Tim. ["The art of the forgotten people"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160313203932/http://ipa.org.au/publications/1691/the-art-of-the-forgotten-people). *IPA Review*. [Institute of Public Affairs](/source/Institute_of_Public_Affairs). Archived from [the original](http://www.ipa.org.au/publications/1691/the-art-of-the-forgotten-people) on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2016.

1. Hauser, Kitty (22 February 2014). ["John Brack's Men's Wear at the National Gallery of Australia"](http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/review/john-bracks-mens-wear-at-the-national-gallery-of-australia/story-fn9n8gph-1226832752291). *The Australian*. News Limited. Retrieved 25 May 2016.

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