Blue napkin holder
1978
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
66.2 × 91.4 cm
Credit Line
John William Fawcett Bequest, 2025
© Ralph Goings 1978
Gallery location
Level 3, NGV International
About this work
Known for his paintings of hamburger stands, fast-food eateries and vintage cars, Ralph Goings was an original member of the West Coast Photorealist group of painters during the late 1960s. His move to New York state in 1974 focused his energies on depicting the interiors of diners in the morning light. Often referred to as the ‘American Vermeer’, Goings injected beauty and awe into the working-class experience, transforming traditionally mundane compositions into complex and captivating images of American culture.
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