Australian Modernism1939-1950

Australian Romantic Realism

Russell Drysdale (1912-1981) William Dobell (1899-1970)

Russell Drysdale (1912-1981)

Russell Drysdale, Moody's pub, 1941 oil on plywood, 50.9 x 61.4cm

Russell Drysdale, The drover’s wife, 1945

oil on canvas, 51.5 x 61.5cm

Russell Drysdale, Two children, 1945-1946 oil on canvas on composition board, 60.6 x 50.8cm

Russell Drysdale, The rabbiters, 1947

oil on canvas, 76.6 x 102.5cm

William Dobell (1899-1970)

William Dobell, The Cypriot, 1940

oil on canvas, 123.3. x 123.3 cm

William Dobell, The billy boy, 1943 oil on cardboard on hardboard, 70.2 x 53.4

cm

William Dobell, Study for Joshua Smith, 1943

oil on cardboard on hardboard, 48 x 32 cm

William Dobell, Portrait of an artist (Joshua Smith), 1943oil on canvas, 107 x 76cm

William Dobell, Margaret Olley, 1948

Oil on hardboard, 117 x 91.5 cm

William Dobell, Margaret Olley (detail), 1948 Oil on hardboard, 117 x 91.5 cm

The ‘Rebellious Generation’

“The members of the rebellious generation – Noel Counihan, Albert Tucker, Sidney Nolan, Max Harris, John Reed and Bernard Smith –

created a movement of revolt more volatile than anything hitherto seen in Australia.

They were revolutionaries … struggling to come to terms with the modern world and its history.

With much in common, they were also divided in their view on the nature of society, nature and

culture, and of the art that could give expression to authentic Australian experience.”

Richard Haese, Rebels and Precursors: The revolutionary years of Australian art

Noel Counihan (1913-1986)

Noel Counihan, Portrait of William Dolphin, the Violinmaker, 1945oil on hardboard, 102.2 x 86.9 cm

Noel Counihan, On the eve of the elections 1955oil on composition board, 52.8 x 91.5 cm

Danila Vassilieff (1897-1958)&

Josl Bergner (1913-)

Josl Bergner, The pie eaters, 1940oil on hardboard 50.0 x 60.6 cm

Josl Bergner, Aborigines in Fitzroy, 1941oil on board 62 x 49.5 cm

Danila Vassilieff, Koornong Schoolgirl, 1941 Oil on canvas 43.5 x 36.2 cm

Sidney Nolan (1917-1992)

Sidney Nolan, Glenrowan, 1945

Ripolin on strawboard 63.5 x 76.2 cm

Sidney Nolan, Kelly and Horse, 1946

Ripolin on board 92.1 x 122.4 cm

Sidney Nolan, Ned Kelly, 1946

Enamel on composition board, 90.4 x 121.2 cm, National Gallery of Australia

Sidney Nolan, Pretty Polly Mine, 1948

Ripolin on hardboard, 91.5 x 122 cm

Sidney Nolan, Burke and Wills Expedition ,1948

Ripolin on board, 91.3 x 122.2 cm

Sidney Nolan, Central Australia, 1950

Ripolin on board, 91.4 x 122.3 cm

Arthur Boyd (1920-1999)

Arthur Boyd, The Expulsion, 1947-48Oil on tempera on composition board, 101.6 x 122 cm

Arthur Boyd, Wheatfield, Berwick, 1948Oil on canvas, 52 x 64cm

Arthur Boyd, Irrigation lake, Wimmera, 1950 resin and tempera on composition board, 81.4 x 121.9cm

Arthur Boyd, The Waterhole, c.1954 Enamel paint on composition board, 88.6 x 119.8 cm

Arthur Boyd, Shearers playing for a bride, 1957 oil and tempera on canvas, 150.1cm x 175.7cm

Albert Tucker (1914-1999)

Albert Tucker, Victory girls, 1943

oil on cardboard, 64.6 x 58.7 cm

Albert Tucker, Study for ‘Images of modern evil, Spring in Fitzroy,’ 1943

Gouache on paper on board, 41 x 47.9 cm

Albert Tucker, Images of Modern Evil #9, 1944Oil on canvas, mounted on composition board, 51.8 x 63 cm, National Gallery of Australia

Joy Hester (1920-1940)

Joy Hester, Study of a woman, 1938Charcoal, 36.3 cm x 26.0 cm

Joy Hester, Two girls in a street, c. 1941

watercolour, pen and ink 28.2 cm x 38.8 cm

Joy Hester, Frightened woman, 1945

brush and ink, wash 31 cm x 20 cm

Joy Hester, Love II, c. 1950

brush and ink, gouache, crayon, collage, 55.8 cm x 39.4 cm