nora heysen - carrick hill · nora heysen is regarded as one of australia’s premier portrait and...
TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: Nora Heysen - Carrick Hill · Nora Heysen is regarded as one of Australia’s premier portrait and still-life artists. Born in 1911, the fourth of Hans and Selma (Sallie) Heysen’s](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042920/5f66e13dc26416747d4c4261/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Education Resource
Nora Heysen Light and life
![Page 2: Nora Heysen - Carrick Hill · Nora Heysen is regarded as one of Australia’s premier portrait and still-life artists. Born in 1911, the fourth of Hans and Selma (Sallie) Heysen’s](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042920/5f66e13dc26416747d4c4261/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Contents1 AboutthisEducationResource 1
2 Meettheartist 2 Ataglance(biographicaloutline) 2
Creativejourney(keydevelopments) 4
Influences 8
Incontext 9
3 Explore(subjectsandthemes) 10 Stilllife 10
Flowers 12
Selfportraits 14
Australiansatwar 16
Figures 18
4 Keysforlooking 20
5 Forteachers/students 22 Learningconnections 22
Getstarted(intheexhibition) 24
6 Researchandfurtherresources 25
ThisEducationResourceisproducedinassociationwiththetouringexhibitionNora Heysen: Light and life,curatedbyJaneHyltonandcoordinatedbyCarrickHill,Adelaide.TheexhibitionexploresNoraHeysen’sworldandworkandhighlightsthestrengthsanddiversityofherstudiopracticeinanotablecareerspanningsevendecades.
Cover image: Self Portrait(detail),1953,oiloncanvas,89.0x66.5cm;CollectionoftheArtGalleryofSouthAustralia,Adelaide;SouthAustralianGovernmentGrant,1994
Acknowledgments
Writer:JohnNeylonConsultant:JaneHyltonProduction:CarrickHill,Adelaide,withparticularassistancefromRichardHeathcoteandCateParkinsonDesign:SandraElmsDesign
TheNoraHeysenFoundationIncorporated
![Page 3: Nora Heysen - Carrick Hill · Nora Heysen is regarded as one of Australia’s premier portrait and still-life artists. Born in 1911, the fourth of Hans and Selma (Sallie) Heysen’s](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042920/5f66e13dc26416747d4c4261/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Nora Heysen: Light and life Education Resource: John Neylon
About this Education Resource TheResourceisdesignedtosupportlearningoutcomesandteachingprogramsassociatedwithviewingtheNora Heysen: Light and lifeexhibitionby:
• providinginformationabouttheartistandherpractice
• exploringexhibitionsubjectsandthemes
• locatingtheartist’sworkwithinart-historicalcontexts
• challengingstudentstoengagewiththeworksandtheexhibition’sthemes
• identifyingwaysinwhichtheexhibitioncanbeusedasacurriculumresource.
Itmaybeusedinconjunctionwithavisittotheexhibitionandasapre-visitorpost-visitresource.
YearLevelThisResourceisdesignedtobeusedbyprimary,secondary–seniorsecondaryvisualartteachersandstudents.
LearningAreasVisualArt:theexhibitionoffersinsightsinto:
• theartisticdevelopmentandcontributionofasignificantAustralianwomanartist
• studio-basedstylesandtechniques
• arthistoricalcontextsofthemodernistperiod
Society/AustralianStudies• therolesandcontributionofwomenartistswithinAustraliansociety
• Australiansatwar
English/Literacy• Analysingworksorreportinganddebatingfindingsrelatedtoviewingworkswill
requirestudentstomakeeffectiveuseoflanguageandwritingskills.
1 nora heysen: light and lifeEducationResource
1
![Page 4: Nora Heysen - Carrick Hill · Nora Heysen is regarded as one of Australia’s premier portrait and still-life artists. Born in 1911, the fourth of Hans and Selma (Sallie) Heysen’s](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042920/5f66e13dc26416747d4c4261/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Meet the artist: At a glance At a glanceAt a glance
Self Portrait,1953oiloncanvas,89.0x66.5cm;CollectionoftheArtGalleryofSouthAustralia,Adelaide;SouthAustralianGovernmentGrant,1994
NoraHeysenisregardedasoneofAustralia’spremierportraitandstill-lifeartists.Bornin1911,thefourthofHansandSelma(Sallie)Heysen’seightchildren,shegrewupinthefamilyhome,TheCedars,atHahndorfintheAdelaideHills.FromanearlyageNorawasdeterminedtobeanartist.ThroughstudyandapplicationsheachievedcriticalsuccessandinherearlytwentieswasabletorealiseadreamoflivingandstudyinginLondon.
BythetimeshereturnedtoAustraliainlate1937herartistichorizonshadbeenexpandedbyexposuretothediversityoftraditionalandmodernEuropeanart.TheartistmovedtoSydneyin1938,perhapstorestoreasenseofindependenceasanartistwhichshehadenjoyedwhileoverseas.ThishadtheeffectofextendingHeysen’sreputationbeyondSouthAustraliaandconsolidatinghercredentialsasacommissionedportraitpainter.WinningtheArchibaldPrizeinthesameyear(thefirstfemaleartisttowinthisprestigiousaward)confirmedhergrowingreputationasoneofAustralia’sforemostwomanartists.
2
2 nora heysen: light and lifeEducationResource
![Page 5: Nora Heysen - Carrick Hill · Nora Heysen is regarded as one of Australia’s premier portrait and still-life artists. Born in 1911, the fourth of Hans and Selma (Sallie) Heysen’s](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042920/5f66e13dc26416747d4c4261/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
3 nora heysen: light and lifeEducationResource
Heysenwasanofficialwarartist(thenation’sfirstfemalewarartist)andservedasacaptainintheAustralianWomen’sArmyService1943 – 46.
Fromthelate1940stothetimeofherdeathin2003herworkingbasewasSydneyandfrom1954herhome,TheChalet,inHuntersHill.FrequenttravelwithherhusbandRobertBlacktoPacificdestinations,includingNewGuineaandtheSolomonIslands(1954 – 65),offeredopportunitiestoextendherpracticeandtodrawandpaintlocalpeople,subjectswhichfiguredprominentlyinheroutputatthistime.
Theartofhersenioryearsreflectedinitsflowerstudies,gardensubjects,interiorsandfigurestudieshowspecialtheintimatemomentsandsubjectsassociatedwithherdomesticworldandstudiopracticewerefortheartist.AcrossthisperiodsheexhibitedrarelybutsufficientlyfortheAustralianartcommunitytoappreciatethefullfloweringofhertalentsandimaginationasanartist.
Awardsandhonoursreflectedthisappreciation.In1993HeysenreceivedtheAustraliaCouncil’sAwardforAchievementintheArts.In1998shewasawardedtheOrderofAustralia(AM).In2000amajorretrospectiveexhibitionNora HeysenwaspresentedbytheNationalLibraryofAustralia,Canberra.In2004theNoraHeysenFoundationIncwasestablishedinSouthAustralia,basedattheHeysenfamilyhome,TheCedars,Hahndorf,SouthAustralia.
Insights“NoraHeysenremainsoneofthemostsignificantoftheAustralianfemaleartistsofthelastcentury.Shewasaremarkablewomanwhoseartisticachievementsspannedaperiodofsome75years,andwhogainedcontinuedrespectforheracknowledgedpassionandgenuinededicationtoherart.NoraHeysenwasabeautifulcolourist,formidabledrawer,superbdraughtsmanandskilfulexponentofoilonbrush;anartistwhoplacedherselfinthehistorybooksbybecomingthefirstwomantowintheprestigiousArchibaldPrizeandthefirstappointedfemalewarartistinWorldWarII.”
AllanCampbellCurator,TheCedars,theHansHeysenEstateChairman,theNoraHeysenFoundationIncorporated
“UltimatelytheessenceofNoraHeysen’sartreflectshercontinualpursuitofandloveforlightandlife.”
JaneHyltonCurator,Nora Heysen: Light and life
![Page 6: Nora Heysen - Carrick Hill · Nora Heysen is regarded as one of Australia’s premier portrait and still-life artists. Born in 1911, the fourth of Hans and Selma (Sallie) Heysen’s](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042920/5f66e13dc26416747d4c4261/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Meet the artist: Creative journey Naturaltalentandwork:EarlyyearsinAdelaide1920s –1933Nora,ofalltheHeysenchildren,demonstratedthemostartisticinterestandtalent.Encouragedbyherfathershelearnttodrawandpaint.AgedfifteenshebeganformalartstudiesattheSchoolofFineArtsinNorthAdelaide.Fromthelate1920stotheearly1930sshecontinuedtodevelopskillsindrawingandpaintingacrossavarietyofsubjects,principallystilllife,portraiture(includingselfportraits)andlandscape.EarlyworkcarriestheimprintoftheformalandconservativetrainingshereceivedprimarilyattheSchoolofFineArtsunderFrederickMillwardGray.FromGrayshelearnttoanalyseandillustrateobjectsintermsofessentialvolumes;cylinders,spheresandcubes.Thissystemgaveherthebasisonwhichtoexplorethepossibilitiesofformandcomposition.
Still life with cheese and bread,1931oiloncanvas,50.0x60.0cm;CourtesyofKensingtonGalleries,Adelaide;PhotographbyMickBradley
Anemergingindividual:LifeinLondon1934 –37Fromtheearly1930sandacrosstheperiodspentinLondon(1934 –37),itispossibletoidentifyanoticeableshiftinstyleandmethodology.Theearthcolourspalettewhichhadservedhersofaithfullywasreplacedbyaricherpaletteofbrightluminouscoloursandbrushhandlingbecamemoregesturalandtextured.WhileinLondonNorastudiedattheCentralSchool.Thisstudywassupplementedbyvisitstogalleries.WhilethesubjectmatterofHeysen’sworkcontinuedtobeprimarilystilllifesubjects,studiointeriors,afewlandscapesandportraits(includingselfportraits)herworkreflectedanincreasedawarenessofthepossibilitiesofcolourtoenliventheimageandcreatemood.Changewasalsoevidentinanincreasingcomplexityandsophisticationofcompositionalarrangementswithinstilllifesandinteriors.
4 nora heysen: light and lifeEducationResource
2
![Page 7: Nora Heysen - Carrick Hill · Nora Heysen is regarded as one of Australia’s premier portrait and still-life artists. Born in 1911, the fourth of Hans and Selma (Sallie) Heysen’s](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042920/5f66e13dc26416747d4c4261/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
London breakfast,1935oiloncanvas,47.0x53.5cm;CollectionoftheNationalGalleryofAustralia,Canberra,purchased1996
Awealthofexperience:Sydneylate1930s –early1940sNorareturnedtoAustralia,initiallytoAdelaideandTheCedarsinlater1937beforemovingtoSydneyin1938.Distinctivefeaturesofworkmadeonherreturnwereamorehigh-keypalette(asopposedtoanearlierrelianceondarksandlights)andalooserpaintingstyle.Thishadtheeffectofestablishinglightandcolourascentralconcernsofherpractice.Duringthisearly1940speriodtheartistcontinuedtoexplorepainterlyexpressionthroughmoregesturalbrushworkwithoutabandoningsounddraughtmanshipandcompositionalstructure.Atthistimeshecompletedanumberofsignificantpaintingsrelatedtothesubjectofmotherhood.
Tomatoes,1939oilonboard,44.2x55.6cm;CollectionoftheArtGalleryofSouthAustralia,Adelaide;SouthAustralianGovernmentGrant1998
5 nora heysen: light and lifeEducationResource
![Page 8: Nora Heysen - Carrick Hill · Nora Heysen is regarded as one of Australia’s premier portrait and still-life artists. Born in 1911, the fourth of Hans and Selma (Sallie) Heysen’s](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042920/5f66e13dc26416747d4c4261/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Atwar1943–46InOctober1943HeysentookupanappointmentascaptainintheAustralianWomen’sArmyService.ShewasthefirstwomaninAustraliatobeappointedasawarartist.Duringthistimesheproducedover170worksofart.Thisbodyofworkconsistsofarangeofsubjectsfromformalportraitsoffemaleofficebearerstomoreinformalportraitsandviewsofwomenengagedinarangeofduties.TropicalconditionsmadeoilpaintingverydifficultandHeysenchoseattimestoworkinchalk.Workingin situandspeedrequiredachangeintechnique;moredirectandrapidbrushwork.
Private Gwynneth Patterson, Australian Army Medical Women’s Service,1944,oiloncanvas,56.0x41.0cm;CollectionoftheAustralianWarMemorial,Canberra;AcquiredundertheOfficialWarArtScheme1945
Pacificregionwork:1954 –64HeysenmarriedRobertBlackinearly1953andoverthenextdecadeaccompaniedhimonresearchexpeditionsthattookthembothtoPapuaNewGuinea,TheSolomonandTrobriandIslandsandtheNewHebrides(nowknownasVanuatu).OnseveralPacificregionjourneystheartistmadenumerousdrawingsandsomeoilpaintingsoflocal,indigenouspeople.Workingmainlyinchalks(amoremanageablemediuminthedifficultclimateandworkingconditions)Heysenhonedherfigurativedrawingskills.JaneHyltoncommentsthat,“TheworkssheproducedduringthesejourneysareexceptionalinHeysen’soeuvre.Herknowledgeofthehumanformtranslatedreadilyintobeautifullyfreshportraitsoftheindigenouswomenandmen.”
6 nora heysen: light and lifeEducationResource
![Page 9: Nora Heysen - Carrick Hill · Nora Heysen is regarded as one of Australia’s premier portrait and still-life artists. Born in 1911, the fourth of Hans and Selma (Sallie) Heysen’s](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042920/5f66e13dc26416747d4c4261/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
King Mitakaka, New Guinea,c.1962sanguine,pastellaidonpaper,63.5x48.5cm;CollectionoftheArtGalleryofNewSouthWales,Sydney;Giftoftheartist2003;PhotographbyDianaPanuccio
Ahomeofherown:Sydney1950s –2003FollowingwarserviceHeysenquicklyre-establishedherartisticcareer.By1951shewasverybusyacceptingcommissionsforbothportraitsandflowerstilllifes.In1954NoraandRobertpurchasedTheChaletatHuntersHill,Sydney.OverthefollowingdecadesNoraHeysen’sworkbecamemoreintrospectiveandreliantonsubjectsdrawnfromherdomesticsettingatTheChalet,includinghergardenanditsflowers,localchildren,hercatsandstudioscenes.Heysenjoinedalocallife-drawinggroupandovertimeproducedalargeandsignificantbodyofdrawingsofthenudemodel.AsHeysenworkedintoherseventiesherpaintingstylebecamebolderandpaintapplicationdryerandmorerapid.
Morning sun,1965oiloncanvas,63.5x47.0cm;Privatecollection
7 nora heysen: light and lifeEducationResource
![Page 10: Nora Heysen - Carrick Hill · Nora Heysen is regarded as one of Australia’s premier portrait and still-life artists. Born in 1911, the fourth of Hans and Selma (Sallie) Heysen’s](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042920/5f66e13dc26416747d4c4261/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Meet the artist: Influences HansHeysenThemostsignificantformativeinfluenceonNoraHeysen’spracticewasthatofherfather,thenationallyacclaimedlandscapeartist,HansHeysen.HanshadundergonehisowninitiationintotheworldofartwhenasayoungmanhestudiedandtravelledinEuropeattheturnofnineteenthcentury(1899 –1904).Itwasatimeofradicalchange.TheinfluenceofpleinairismandamodifiedformofImpressionismspreadinthefinaltwentyyearsofthecentury.ManyartistsfoundwaystocombinesomeofImpressionism’sinnovativefeatures,suchasitsfreerbrushwork,apreoccupationwithlightandatmosphereandaninterestinmodern-lifesubjects,withelementsofamoreconservative,academickind.ThiscomplexitywasapparentinHeysen’sworkwhereanumberofsubjectsandsettingsindicateabroaddebttohumanistartistsincludingRembrandtandMillet.Heysen’s‘capture’oflight,oftenwithinruralsubjectworks,reflectshisclosestudyofthe‘atmospheric’artists,particularlyClaudeLorraine,J.M.W.Turner,JohnConstableandJean-BaptisteCorot.
HeysenhadencounteredModernisttrendsintheformofartbyPaulCézanne,VincentVanGoghandothers.HeadmiredaspectsoftheirworkbutfeltthatModernismingeneralplacedundueemphasisonpersonalexpressionattheexpenseofformandstructure.TheseprioritiesareclearlyexpressedinaletterhewrotetoNorawhileshewasstudyinginLondon.
At your present stage of development, colour after all is not of such importance as form and structure – never relinquish your hold on your search for structure – it is indispensable to help you build your foundations: first form and structure then colour
HansHeysentoNoraHeysen22March,1930s
Nora’searlytrainingindrawing,compositionandtonalrealismandher‘apprenticeship’underthewatchfulandencouragingeyeofherfatherinhisstudioensuredthatthisemphasisonstructureemergedasakeyorganisingprincipleforherwork.Althoughthestyleofhermatureworkchangedassheallowedcolouramorecentralroleitisstillpossibletoidentifyasenseof‘visualscaffolding’createdbytheformsofindividualobjectsandtheirrelationshipswithinacomposition.
ImpressionismThefirstImpressionistexhibitionwasheldinParisin1874.Bythelate1880sithadbecomelessaspecificartmovementassociatedwithasmallgroupofradicalartists(includingClaudeMonet,CamillePissarro,MaryCassattandothers)andmoreagenericstylewithmanyvariations.Butcharacteristicelementssuchaspaintingen plein air,dividedor‘broken’brushwork,useofpureandcomplementarycolours,andemphasisonlightremainedincommon.Australianartists(unlesstheytravelledoverseas)inthefirsthalfofthetwentiethcentury(includingNoraHeysen)hadlittleornocontactwithoriginalImpressionist(orModernist)works.HeysenwasinspiredbyamajorexhibitionofMonet’sworkseeninLondonin1936.Thishadagreatinfluenceonherstyleparticularlyintheuseofbrightercolourandthetreatmentoflight.
Post-ImpressionismThistermwasderivedfromthetitleofanexhibitionheldinLondonin1910.Theparticipatingartists,includingCézanne,HenriMatisse,PabloPicasso,GeorgesSeuratandVanGogh,representedaphaseofartisticexperimentwhichreplacedImpressionism(thusthetitle).WhilePost-Impressionismwasaverybroadtermtodescribeadiversityofstylesandapproaches,thereweresimilaritiesintheworkofartistsassociatedinsomewaywiththePost-Impressioniststyle.Theimagerytendedtoaflatteningofpictorialspaceandsimplificationofform.Colourwasarbitraryanddeterminedbyimaginativeorexpressiveimperativesratherthantruthtooriginalsources.TheappealofthisapproachforanumberofyoungerBritishartists(andforNoraHeysen)wasthatitretainedastronglinkwiththeworldofappearances–unlikeformsofCubism,Surrealismandabstraction.
NoraHeysen’sexposuretoawiderangeofImpressionistandPost-Impressionistartwasextensive.TheartistrecalledbeingparticularlydrawntotheworkofAugusteRenoir,Monet,PierreBonnard,AlfredSisley,Cézanne,andVanGogh.ThisexperienceinspiredHeysentoexpressasenseof‘lightandair’inherwork.
ThePissarroconnectionIn1935HeysenwasinvitedtomeettheartistOrovidaPissarro,thedaughterofLucienPissarrowhoseworkbothNoraandHansHeysenadmired.OrovidaconfrontedNorawithobservationsthatherpainingwas“muddyandfiftyyearsbehindthetime”and“toolowintone”andsuggestedanewrangeofcolourstouseincludingcadmiums,ultramarine,cobaltandcrimson.InresponseNoradeliberatelybrightenedherpaletteandnotedwithsatisfactionthatitcreatedmore“vibrationandbrilliancethanbefore”.Thisintroductionofmorehigh-keynotesintoherworkmarksasignificantshiftinLondon-periodwork.Theconsequencescanbeseeninworksubsequentlymadeovertheremainderofherlife,expressedinconfidenthandlingofrichandbrightlycolouredcompositions.
8 nora heysen: light and lifeEducationResource
2
![Page 11: Nora Heysen - Carrick Hill · Nora Heysen is regarded as one of Australia’s premier portrait and still-life artists. Born in 1911, the fourth of Hans and Selma (Sallie) Heysen’s](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042920/5f66e13dc26416747d4c4261/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Meet the artist: In context Theturnofthecentury–atimeofchangeThelatenineteenthcenturymarkedtheendofthepioneeringerainAustralia.SomeAustralianImpressionists,TomRoberts,ArthurStreetonandFredMcCubbininparticular,commemoratedthiserainanumberofpaintingswhichbecamenationalicons(includingArthurStreeton,Fire’s on,1891,TomRoberts,Shearing the rams,1890andA break away!,1891,FredMcCubbin,The Pioneer,1904).Intheearlytwentiethcentury,pastorallandscapeswerevaluedasexpressionsofnationalidentity.HansHeysenwascelebratedastheinheritorandforemostexponentofthistradition.
ExpatriateandEuropeantravelexperience:latenineteenthcenturyBytheearlytwentiethcenturythestrategyofleavingAustraliatostudyandtravelinEnglandandEuropebecameapriorityforsomeAustralianartists.ThemovementofartistsandartstudentstoEurope(mainlytoLondonandParis)beganinthe1880sandcontinuedintothe1930s.Thefirstwave(1880 –1900)includedTomRobertsandJohnRussellwholeftin1881,BertramMackennal1883,RupertBunny1884,CharlesConder1890,ArthurStreeton1898,HughRamsay,MaxMeldrumandGeorgeLambert1899.
ModernismAfterWorldWarI(1914 –18),theyoungnationofAustraliaunderwentgreateconomicandsocialchange.Thischangewasreflectedinartoftheperiod.Anewgenerationofartistslookedforsubjectsandstyleswhichbetterexpressed(thanpastorallandscapepainting)theideaofAustralianasamodern,urbanisednation.ThisgenerationwasattractedtostylesandideasassociatedwithEuropeanModernism.Modernismisageneraltermwhichappliedtoawiderangeofartstylesandphilosophiesassociatedwithearlytwentiethcenturyart.Artstylesassociatedwithitinclude;Cubism,Surrealism,Abstraction,Constructivism,FuturismandVorticism.WhileelementsofPost-ImpressioniststylefilteredbacktoAustraliathroughthetravelandstudyexperiencesofafewartists,familiaritywithawiderrangeofmodernstyleswasrestrictedtoreproductionsinartpublications.Encounteringmodernartmeantoverseastravel.WorldtravelbecamemoreaccessibleduringthelatenineteenthtoearlytwentiethcenturyandanumberofyoungerAustralianartists,particularlywomenartists,seizedtheopportunitytobroadentheirhorizons.
AustralianwomenartistsandModernismFromthe1920sopportunitiesopenedforwomentotakemoreindependentandlessconventionalrolesinsociety.WorldWar1hadamajorimpactonlifeinAustralia.Familieslostmenfolkandmanysoldierswereseverelywounded.Asaresult,intheperiodfollowingthewarmanywomentookmoreresponsibilitywithinthehome.AperiodofeconomicprosperitybeforetheGreatDepression(1929 –1931)gavepeopleandsomewomeninparticular,agreaterdegreeofsocialfreedom.ForsomewomenthistranslatedasopportunitiestofollowanartisticcareerinAustraliaoroverseas.
ThefirstwaveofoverseastraveloccurredintheyearsleadingtotheFirstWorldWar.Thisgroupincluded;BessieDavidson,HildaRixNicholas,StellaBowen,MargaretPreston,TheaProctor,GladysReynell,JessieTraill,KathleenO’Connor,AgnesGoodsirandGraceCossingtonSmith.
TheimagesproducedbyAustralia’swomenartistsfromthe1920stothelater1930sexpressedacreativeandpositiveresponsetothechallengesofbecomingatwentiethcentury,modernnation.Theseartistsexplorednewideasaboutwhatartcouldbeandportray.TheybroughtnewmovementssuchasCubismbackfromEurope.TheyexploredandextendedpaintingandprintmakinginwaysthatchallengedotherartistsandAustralianaudiences.
Thewomenwhodominatedthetwodecadesfromthe1920stothe1940schallengedtheconservativemoodofartandsocietyduringthisperiod.IncludedinthisgenerationofwomenartistsventuringoutsideofAustraliawere;JeanAppleton,DorritBlack,GraceCrowley,AnneDangar,LisetteKolhagen,KathleenSauerbier,EthelSpowersandEvelineSyme.Afeatureoftheworkofthisgroupofartistswasthewillingnesstoseekoutanduseurbanandindustrialsubjects(suchascities,trainsandbridges)andtreatingtheminastylisticmannerwhichemphasised,technologicalchange,speedandmodernity.
NoraHeysen’smodernityNoraHeysen,untilshetravelledoverseas,wasisolatedfromtherevolutionarychangestakingplaceintheartworldinthefirstpartofthetwentiethcentury.HerarttrainingwasconservativeaswastheartsceneinAdelaideatthistime.HerfatherHanshadmadeaconsciousdecisiontoturnhisbackonmuchoftheModernistexperimentationheobservedwhileoverseasthirtyyearsearlier.Norawascautiousbutcuriousaboutaspectsofmodernart.HereventualadoptionofabroadlyPost-Impressionistapproachwhichusedcolourandameasureofexpressivepainterlystyle–ameasureofhowfarshefeltshecouldembracethespiritofModernismwithoutabandoningprinciplesofsounddraughtsmanshipandcompositionalstructure.
9 nora heysen: light and lifeEducationResource
2
![Page 12: Nora Heysen - Carrick Hill · Nora Heysen is regarded as one of Australia’s premier portrait and still-life artists. Born in 1911, the fourth of Hans and Selma (Sallie) Heysen’s](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042920/5f66e13dc26416747d4c4261/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Explore: Still life
Still life with cheese and bread,1931oiloncanvas,50.0x60.0cm;CourtesyofKensingtonGalleries,Adelaide;PhotographbyMickBradley
ConsiderThisearlyexampleshowstheartistapplyingheremergingskillsintonalrealism.Thismeansthatshadesofcolours(lightertodarker)basicallydefinesolidforms.Thisisclearlyevidentintheloafofbreadandtheeggs.
Thesinglesourceoflight(fromviewer’srighttoleft)hasmadeiteasyfortheartisttoorganisethehighlightsandshadows.WithinthisworkingarrangementHeysenhasalsohadtodealwithreflectedlight.Lookatthelowersurfacesofthetwoeggslowerrighttoseehowthelightfromthetableclothis‘bouncingup’ontotheeggs.
Achallengeforrealistartistsistocreateconvincingsimulationsofsurfacesandtexturesacrossawiderangeofobjects.ConsiderhowsuccessfulNorahasbeeninrenderingthesurfacequalitiesofthebread,eggsandbottle.Lookalsoatthewaytheartisthasworkedto‘capture’thetranslucencyofliquidintheglassandthecrinkledqualityofthepaperwrappedaroundtheblockofcheese.
Consideralsohowinthisverytonalimagehowtheredunitsonthebottle(corkandseal)areusedto‘lift’themoodofthisimageandactaspointsoffocus.
Thecompositionisbasedonatraditionalformulaofthetriangle.Thetopofthebottleactsastheapexandthefrontedgeofthetablecloththebase.Noticehowtheknifeisangledtoleadtheeyeinwardsanduptowardsthebottle.
3
10 nora heysen: light and lifeEducationResource
![Page 13: Nora Heysen - Carrick Hill · Nora Heysen is regarded as one of Australia’s premier portrait and still-life artists. Born in 1911, the fourth of Hans and Selma (Sallie) Heysen’s](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042920/5f66e13dc26416747d4c4261/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Apples on a chair,1995oiloncanvas,40.5x51.0cm;CollectionoftheNoraHeysenFoundation,TheCedars,Hahndorf;PhotographbyMickBradley
Thispicturecanbelookedatintwodifferentways.Halfcloseyoureyesandtheapplesmightsuddenlybegintolooksolid.Openthemandtheymightbegintofloatordissolve.ThiseffectiscommonlyfoundinmanyofNoraHeysen’slaterworks.Itisanindicationofhowdeterminedshewastofuseelementsoflightandlifewithinherwork.
Thetreatmentoflightismuchdifferenttoearlytonalrealistwork(asseeninStill life with cheese and bread)whereasinglesourceoflightcreatedapredictablerangeofhighlightsandshadows.InApplesthelightseemstobeeverywherealmosttothepointofshiningfromwithinsolidforms.Thisislargelyduetothedominanceofyellowwithinthetotalcompositionandtheloose,openbrushworkwhichhasleftsectionsofthewhiteunderpaintingvisible.
Thecompositionislessformalthaninearlywork.Thebackrungsofthechairpositionedontherightcreateanasymmetrywhichhasbeencounterbalancedbythetworedapplesclosesttotheviewer.Theclosefocusonthesubject(whichhasresultedinthetightcroppingofthechair)andtheslightdegreeoftiltingtowardstheviewerarelegaciesoftheartist’sgraspofModernistprinciplesofcompositionandviewerengagement.
11 nora heysen: light and lifeEducationResource
![Page 14: Nora Heysen - Carrick Hill · Nora Heysen is regarded as one of Australia’s premier portrait and still-life artists. Born in 1911, the fourth of Hans and Selma (Sallie) Heysen’s](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042920/5f66e13dc26416747d4c4261/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Explore: Flowers
Summer flowers,1933oiloncanvas,76.1x61.2cm;CollectionoftheCarrickHillTrust,Adelaide;TheHaywardBequest;PhotographbyMickBradley
ConsiderThispaintingisanexcellentexampleofthehighlevelofskillNoraHeysenhadachieved,bytheearly1930s,inrenderingcomplexarrangementsofflowers.Theflowersdepictedhadbeenfreshlycutandtheartistneededtoworkquicklytocaptureasenseoffreshnessandbeautybeforethebloomsfadedandwilted.
Comparethisworktoanearlierflower-subjectpaintingintheexhibitionsuchasScabiouspaintedin1930.Thereareanumberofdifferencesinapproach.InStill lifethereisfarlessrelianceontransitionsfromlighttodarkwithinindividualbloomstocreateillusionsofform.
Thecoloursarebrighterandtheplacementofcolours(theredsandbluesforexample)isstrategicintermsofinvitingtheeyetotrackacrosstheimagetoexplorelikeandunlikecolourrelationships.
Thecompositionmakesastrongvisualstatement.Noticehowthebloomsarepushedouttotheedgesoftheimage.Thishastheeffectofbreakingupthebackgroundor‘negative’spacebehindthesubjectintoareasofinterest.
Thebrushwork(seenbestintheoriginal)isdecisiveandbold.
12 nora heysen: light and lifeEducationResource
3
![Page 15: Nora Heysen - Carrick Hill · Nora Heysen is regarded as one of Australia’s premier portrait and still-life artists. Born in 1911, the fourth of Hans and Selma (Sallie) Heysen’s](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042920/5f66e13dc26416747d4c4261/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Freesias,1985oiloncanvas,50.0x61.0cm;Privatecollection;PhotographbyGregWeight
ConsiderThisstilllifeischaracteristicoflaterworkbytheartistinwhichpainterlyexpressiondominates.Theartisthasworkeddirectlyandwithspeedindefiningtheprincipalfeaturesandobjectswithinthecomposition.Thisisa‘drawingstyle’ofpainting.Mostitemssuchasthevaseofflowers,theapplesinthebasketandtheplatehavebeendepictedbymultiplesweepsanddashesofarelativelythinbrush.Thebroaderareas,particularlythetabletop,windowandwallhavealsobeen‘builtup’withsweepingbrushmarks.
Thecolourrelationshipsofyellowandpinkdominatethecomposition.Thebunchofflowersreliesonpassagesofwhiteandtheradiatingextensionsofgreentoestablishitspresenceinthemiddleofsuchahighenergycomposition.
Tomaintainfreshnesstheartisthasleftsomeareasofunderpaintingexposed.Ontheleftoftheflowersitispossibletoseewheretheartisthasscrapedbackthroughthepigmenttothecanvas.
AswithmostofNoraHeysen’swork,nomatterhowenergisedorexpressiveinstyle,itispossibletoseehowcontrolwasmaintainedbyweighingtonalvalues.Toappreciatethispeerattheimagethroughhalf-closedeyesandtrytoseetheimageintermsoflightanddark(andshadesbetween).Youmaynoticehowthedarkpassagesinthebunchofflowers,theforegroundbasketofapplesandtoalesserextent,therectangularunitfarrighttendto‘anchor’theimageandpreventitfromdissolvingintoamassofshapes,linesandcolours.
13 nora heysen: light and lifeEducationResource
![Page 16: Nora Heysen - Carrick Hill · Nora Heysen is regarded as one of Australia’s premier portrait and still-life artists. Born in 1911, the fourth of Hans and Selma (Sallie) Heysen’s](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042920/5f66e13dc26416747d4c4261/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Explore: Self portraits
Self-portrait,1932oiloncanvas,76.2x61.2cm;CollectionoftheArtGalleryofNewSouthWales,Sydney;GiftofHowardHinton1932;PhotographbyJenniCarter
ConsiderNoraHeysenpaintedanumberofselfportraits,oftenatcriticalpointsinherprofessionalandprivatelife.Assuchtheyarerevealingexpressionsofselfscrutiny.
This1932selfportraitwaspaintedwhentheartistwasbarelyinhertwenties.Itwaspaintedinherfather’sstudio,beforeshehasherownstudiospace.Theworkbenchinthebackground,withitscollectionofpaintingmaterialsandboards,emphasizestheideaofanartistatwork.TheposethatNorastrikesisoneusedconventionallybytraditionalartiststoprojectanddefinetheirprofessionalidentity.ThepaletteisonegiventotheartistbytheacclaimedsingerDameNellieMelba.
Thereisaframedpicturebehindherhead.ItisareproductionofapaintingbytheDutchseventeenthcenturyartistJanVermeer,anartistbothNoraandHansHeysenadmired.Thecontrolledtonalrealismofthisworkandlow-keyrangeofcolours,particularlythedarkbrownoftheartist’sclothingandthewhiteofthecollar,echothestyle,tonalvaluesandeventheperiodcostumingtobefoundwithinVermeer’spainting.
Technically,HeysenbuiltherpaintingonherstrongdrawingskillsThisisparticularlyevidentinthefacewherethedramaticmodellingofvolumesbearsastrongsimilaritytoportraitdrawingsmadebytheartistaroundthistime.
Thecompositionreliesheavilyontheextremecontrastofthedarksilhouetteofthetorsoandtherectangularframedpicturesonthewallandthelightareasofthewallandstackedpaintingboards.
Thepurple-blueofthefabriconthebackofthechairandtheredpigmentonthepalettehavebeengiventhetaskofenliveningorliftingthemoodoftheimage.
14 nora heysen: light and lifeEducationResource
3
![Page 17: Nora Heysen - Carrick Hill · Nora Heysen is regarded as one of Australia’s premier portrait and still-life artists. Born in 1911, the fourth of Hans and Selma (Sallie) Heysen’s](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042920/5f66e13dc26416747d4c4261/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Down and out in London,1937oiloncanvas,55.0x40.0cm;CollectionoftheArtGalleryofSouthAustralia,Adelaide;SouthAustralianGovernmentGrant1994
Thisisarevealingself-portrait,madeinLondon,atacrisispointinNoraHeysen’slife.ItwasthelastpaintingtheartistmadebeforereturningtoAustralia.Londonwasahard,coldandlonelyplace.Recentnegativecriticalopinionofherworkhadcrushedherspirits.Havingcreatedthiswork,theartistabandonedit.Perhapsthemooditconveyswastoodifficulttoconfront.
Thesubjectistheartistinhersmallstudio-flat.It’sacrampedspace.Theartistisinfactsittingpartlyonherpalettewithalineofwashingrunningjustbehindherheadandacookingstoveimmediatelytooneside.
Comparetheposeofthefiguretothatinthe1932self-portrait(illustratedthisResource).IntheearlierworkNorahastheuprightmannerandself-assuredlookofsomeonepurposefulandincontrol.Inthe1937selfportraitthebodyisslumped,thefaceexpressionlessexceptfortheeyeswhichlookawayfromtheviewer.Theoverallimpressionisthatofweariness.Perhapsthewashinghasasymbolicroletoplaybysuggestingthattheartistherselfhasemotionallybeen‘hungouttodry’.Thinkaboutthe‘downandout’referenceinthetitle.
Thelow-keymoodconveyedbythefigureisincontrasttotheup-beatstyleofpainting.ThisworkisanexcellentexampleoftherangeofModernistinfluencesNoraHeysenabsorbedwhileinLondon.ThedirectinfluencemaywellbethePost-Impressioniststylesofrepresentationpromotedthroughtheartist’scontactwithLucienandOrovidaPissarro.BythistimeNorahadlookedwithinitialcuriositythenenthusiasmatawiderangeofmodern-eraartistsincludingRenoir,Monet,Sisley,Cezanne,BonnardandVanGogh.
EvidenceofModernistinfluencescanbeseenintheuseof‘brokenbrushwork’(individual,squareheadedbrushmarkslaidsidebysidetobuildareas),complementarycolourtocreateshadows(asseeninthecoolcolourhighlightsonthefaceandthebrighter,pastel-huedcolourrange.
15 nora heysen: light and lifeEducationResource
![Page 18: Nora Heysen - Carrick Hill · Nora Heysen is regarded as one of Australia’s premier portrait and still-life artists. Born in 1911, the fourth of Hans and Selma (Sallie) Heysen’s](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042920/5f66e13dc26416747d4c4261/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Explore: Australians at war
Sister Minnie Goldstein working in the blood bank, Alexishafen,1944oiloncanvas,40.0x45.6cm;CollectionoftheAustralianWarMemorial,Canberra;AcquiredundertheOfficialWarArtScheme1945
ConsiderAsanofficialwarartistNoraHeysencreatedover170worksofart.152oftheseworkswereultimatelyacquiredbytheAustralianWarMemorialundertheOfficialWarArtScheme.Thisbodyofworkpresentsarangeofsubjects.Itincludedformalportraitsoffemaleofficebearersaswellaslessformalviewsofwomenengagedinawiderangeofwork.CollectivelytheyconstituteauniquerecordofAustralianwomen’scontributiontothewareffort.
Thisportraitofanurseworkinginamake-shiftbloodbankinPapuaNewGuineaistypicalofanumberofworksiteinteriorsmadeinvarioustheatresofwar.IncreatingsuchanimageHeysenneededtocalluponherdrawingandrenderingskills,particularlyindealingwithinteriorlighting.Theartist’sexperienceinpaintinginteriorsisparticularlyevidentintheboldmassingoflightsanddarkstoachievedramaticeffectandaddinteresttowhatanotherobservermightseeasacommonplacescene.
Thepaintingstyleofthisworkisdirect.Considerhow,forexample,theartisthascreatedtheimpressionofnumerousbottlesontheworkbenchusingdecisivebrushmarksandhighlights.
16 nora heysen: light and lifeEducationResource
3
![Page 19: Nora Heysen - Carrick Hill · Nora Heysen is regarded as one of Australia’s premier portrait and still-life artists. Born in 1911, the fourth of Hans and Selma (Sallie) Heysen’s](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042920/5f66e13dc26416747d4c4261/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Pathologist titrating sera (Captain Robert Black),1944oilonhardboard,45.9x39.6cm;CollectionoftheAustralianWarMemorial,Canberra;AcquiredundertheOfficialWarArtScheme1945
ConsiderThepersoninthispaintingisthepathologistCaptainRobertBlack,aspecialistintropicaldiseases.Heysenmethimduringthewar.Theycorresponded,maintainedcontactandlatermarriedin1953.
JaneHyltonhasobservedofsuchimagesthattheywerealmostlike“incidentalimagessuchasonemightcatchwhilewalkingdownthewardscorridorabusyhospital.Theseinteriorsreflecttheconcentratedintensitythatsurroundedtheentirewareffort–wedarenotdisturbSisterMinnieGoldsteinassheworksinthebloodbankinAlexishafeninPapuaNewGuinea,norinterruptRobertBlackashefocusesontitratingsera”.
Inthispicturetheartisthasmaintainedamiddle-distancefocustoensurethattheviewergetsarealsenseofthelaboratoryenvironmentinwhichthedoctorisworking.Herportraitandfigureskillsareevidentnotonlyintheconcentrationexpressedonthefacebutthedelicacyofhandgesturesinholdingadelicateitemoflaboratoryequipment.
17 nora heysen: light and lifeEducationResource
![Page 20: Nora Heysen - Carrick Hill · Nora Heysen is regarded as one of Australia’s premier portrait and still-life artists. Born in 1911, the fourth of Hans and Selma (Sallie) Heysen’s](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042920/5f66e13dc26416747d4c4261/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Explore: Figures
Ruth,1933oiloncanvas,81.5x64.2cm;CollectionoftheArtGalleryofSouthAustralia,Adelaide;SouthAustralianGovernmentGrant1934
ConsiderEarlyinhercareerNoramadeaconsciousdecisiontoexcelinportraiture.Onereasonforthiswasthefactthatherfather,Hans,had,assheonceput,‘takenoutcopyrightonthegumtree’andbyimplicationtree-studdedlandscapes.InportraitureNorafeltshecouldworkinherownspacewithoutinevitablecomparisonswithherfather.
Theartistmadeanumberofsketchesandpaintingsofthepersonrepresentedinthepainting.ShewasalocalHahndorfwomannamedRonda.Nora’smotherSalliehadarrangedforRondatomodelforNora.Theartistfoundinspirationinthesubject’sstrongfeaturesandhealthyappearance.HeysengavethefigureinherfinishedportraittheBiblicalnameof‘Ruth’.
Threepaintedversionsof‘Ruth’giveagoodideaofNora’sinterestatthetimeinfifteenthcenturyFlorentineRenaissancepainting.Thereare,forexample,strongvisualsimilaritiesbetweenthisworkandLeonardodaVinci’sMona Lisa.
Thesparse,hillycharacterofthebackgroundlandscapeisintendedtomatchthetough,robustappearanceofthewoman.
Technicallytheworkispaintedintwosections.Thefigureisdefinedincarefultonalrealismwithsmoothtransitionsbetweenhighlightsandshadows.Thebackgroundlandscapeontheotherhandhasbeenbuiltupbyfree-spiritedglazingovercoolgreyunderpainting.
18 nora heysen: light and lifeEducationResource
3
![Page 21: Nora Heysen - Carrick Hill · Nora Heysen is regarded as one of Australia’s premier portrait and still-life artists. Born in 1911, the fourth of Hans and Selma (Sallie) Heysen’s](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042920/5f66e13dc26416747d4c4261/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
A boy with his cat,1972oiloncanvasboard,56.0x45.8cm;Privatecollection;PhotographbyMickBradley
ConsiderTheartofNoraHeysen’ssenioryearsreflectedinitsflowerstudies,gardensubjects,interiorsandfigurestudieshowspecialtheintimatemomentsandsubjectsassociatedwithherdomesticworldandstudiopracticeatHuntersHillwerefortheartist.Thisportraitofalocalboynursingacatcapturesasimplemomentintime.
Afeatureofthisworkistheopen,confidentbrushworkwhichmatchesthesubjectinitsinformality.Theimagehasbeenbuiltupfromalightochrebackgroundwash,somebrush-drawnlinestodefinethechairandthefigure,thensomewet-in-wetbuildupofareas(particularlythehandsandthecat)topulltheprimaryfeaturestogether.
19 nora heysen: light and lifeEducationResource
![Page 22: Nora Heysen - Carrick Hill · Nora Heysen is regarded as one of Australia’s premier portrait and still-life artists. Born in 1911, the fourth of Hans and Selma (Sallie) Heysen’s](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042920/5f66e13dc26416747d4c4261/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Keys for looking “To look. To see. To really see. That is the ultimate result. If you do it well enough and contribute something of the imagination and real knowledge to anything you do it must have an effect on the viewer. It opens your eyes. You just don’t look. You see. You feel.”
NoraHeysen,speakinginfilmproduction,Of art and men: Nora Heysen,Schlusser,Eugene, SevenSProductions,Sydney,2007
AsanartistworkinginthestudiotraditionNoraHeysenthoughtandactedvisually.Hertrainingtaughthertothinkofapictureasessentiallyacomposition.Thismeantthatnomatterwhatthesubjectmightbe(aface,figureorvaseofflowersforexample)ithadtoworkasavisualstatement.SopaintingforNoraHeysenwasalwaysmorethancopyingorcreatingalikeness.Ithadtocapturethevisualcharacterofthesubjectandithadtocapturetheviewer’simagination.ByfavouringacertainvisualstyleNoraHeysenprovidescluestoherintentionsasanartist.Recognisingthesecluescreatesanopportunitytosharetheartist’sfeelingsaboutthebeautyanduniquenessof,inherwords,“lifeandlife”.
TomakethishappenHeysenthoughtandactedasifshewasplayingagame.Inthisgametherewereanumberofkeyplayerssuchaslight,colourandcomposition.
TimetolookatoneofNora’spaintingstoseehowit’sbeenputtogetherandhowitworks.
London breakfast,1935oiloncanvas,47.0x53.5cm;CollectionoftheNationalGalleryofAustralia,Canberra,purchased1996
Generaldescription:Whatdoesthispicturelooklike?Whatisitabout?Whatdoesitshow?Thispaintingshowsawomansitingatatableinaroom.Sheisreading(abook?)whilehavingacupoftea(orcoffee?).
Isthereanymoreinformation?Thewomaniswearingadressinggownandhasslippersonherfeet.Alongsidethecupandsauceronthetableisacutloafofbreadonabreadboard,onatray,ateapot,abottleofmilk,acutpumpkinonasaucerandavasewithflowersinit.
4
20 nora heysen: light and lifeEducationResource
![Page 23: Nora Heysen - Carrick Hill · Nora Heysen is regarded as one of Australia’s premier portrait and still-life artists. Born in 1911, the fourth of Hans and Selma (Sallie) Heysen’s](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042920/5f66e13dc26416747d4c4261/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
Thisisaninteriorsettingorsubject.Butwhatkindofinteriorspaceisthis?Thepaintingshowspartofaroom.Ithaslightcolouredwallsandexposedfloorboards.Thereisakindofmantelpieceimmediatelybehindthewoman.Belowthetopedgeofthismantelpieceisabookshelfrecesswithafewbooks.Ontopofthemantelpieceisabowlsetonanornatestand.Abovethisaframedpicturecanbepartlyseen.
Theotherprincipalitemsintheroomarethechairthewomanissittingon,thetableandapatternedrugsetbeneathboththeseitems.
Thistypeofdescriptionislikeanauditorchecklistofwhat’sinthepicture.Itprovidesaplatformonwhichadditionalinformationcanbeaddedasfollows:
Light:Whereisthelightcomingfrom?Isitnaturalorartificial?Howhastheartistdealtwithreflectedlight?
Colour:Whatkindofcolourshastheartistused?Dosomekindsofcoloursdominate?Doesitlookasiftheartisthasgivensomethoughttowheredifferentareasofcolourareplaced?Toanswerthisquestionfocusonallthe‘blues’inthepicture.Noticehowtheyarevariedshadesofblueandthattheyare‘scattered’withinthecomposition.Doyouthinktheartistintendedtodothis?Ifso,why?
Patterns:Patternsareoftenusedbyartiststobuildvisualenergy.Itemsinapicturemayhavedecorativepatternsaspartoftheirsurfaces(suchastherugonthefloorinthispicture).Ortheartistwillsometimesrepeatmarks,lines,shapes,coloursorbrushmarkstocreatepatterning.Seeifyoucanfindexamplesofbothinthispicture.
Composition:Howiseverythingarrangedorplacedwithinthepicture?Doesitlookasiftheartisthasgivensomethoughtaboutwheredifferentthingsareplaced?Doyouthinkforexamplethattheartistmeanttolineupthebowlonthemantelpiecewiththepaintingaboveandthetablelegsbelow?
Linesandshapes:ArtistslikeNoraHeysenunderstoodthepoweroflinesandshapestocreateinterestandtocontrolthewayapictureisviewed.Thetableandchairlegsforexamplehaveimportantworktodoinsubdividingthelowerpartofthepictureintointerestingsmallersections.Tofindtheimportantshapestrypeeringatthepicturethroughyoureyelashes.Whenyoudosoyoumightnoticethatmuchofthelowerpartofthepicture‘comestogether’tomakealargeshapeagainsttheupperpartwhichismainlythelightcolouredwall.Butwhenyoudothisyoumightalsonoticethatmanyoftheitemsonthetablesuchasthebottleofmilkandtheloafofbread‘cometogether’tomakesomeinterestinglight-tonedshapesinthemiddleofthepicture.
Spaceandspatialdepth:Theartisthasusedshadingtocreatetheillusionthatsuchthingsastheloafofbread,thecupandthepumpkinaresolidorthreedimensional.Canyoufindotherexamplesofshadingusedtocreateillusionsofreality?Theartisthasalsousedavisualsystemcalledperspectivetoincreasethespatialdepthofthepicture.Findoutwhatthistermmeansandseeifyoucanfindexamplesofthissystematworkinthispicture.
Mood:NoraHeysencreatedinterpretationsnotcopiesofreality.Inexpressingherfeelingsabouthersubjectssheintentionallyorotherwisecreatedmoodswhichspeakdirectlytotheviewer.Thewaytheartistchoosestointerprethersubjectsusuallydecidestheoverallmoodofthework.Itremainsapersonalthing.Youmaygetasenseofaparticularmoodtheartistneverintended.
Style:Artworksareoftenclassifiedaccordingtostyle.TosaythatNoraHeysen’sartisinarealistorPost-ImpressionistorModerniststyleisonlyusefultoadegree.Itdoesn’tsaywhatmakesherartspecialordistinctive.Howeverwhenanalysingordiscussingindividualworksitisveryusefultothinkaboutthestyleasbeingthesumofallthevariousfeaturesandvisualelementsworkingtogether.Thuswecantalkaboutearlypaintingsanddrawingsasbeinginatonalrealiststyle.Lateworks,ontheotherhand,maybedescribedasexpressive.WithNoraHeysenitisperhapsbesttotalkintermsofherworkhavingitsownordistinctivestyle.
Medium:Thewaythepaintisappliedinapainting(usuallybutnotexclusivelywithabrush)revealsmuchabouttheartist’sintentions.Alivelyor‘worked’paintingsurfaceorareascomposedofmultipleandvisiblebrush(orothermedium)markswillusuallybuildthevisualenergyofthepicture.Itmayalsohelptobuildordefinethemoodofawork.ReproductionswillnotalwaysconveythisinformationsowhenyouseetheoriginalLondon breakfastcheckitout.
Technique:Thisabroadtermthatcoversthedifferentmethodstheartistuseswhenworkingwithanartmediumsuchasoilpaintorpastel.Itmayincludethesupport,(stretchedcanvasorboard),ground(baseonwhichthepigmentisplaced),preliminarydrawingontheground,underpainting,washingorstaining,indirectpaintingmethodssuchasworkingfromthintothicklayersofpigmentorapplyingglazesoverpre-preparedsurfaces,directpaintingmethodssuchaswet-in-wetmanipulationofpigmentorworkingbacksuchaswiping,scrapingorinscribing.
21 nora heysen: light and lifeEducationResource
![Page 24: Nora Heysen - Carrick Hill · Nora Heysen is regarded as one of Australia’s premier portrait and still-life artists. Born in 1911, the fourth of Hans and Selma (Sallie) Heysen’s](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042920/5f66e13dc26416747d4c4261/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
For teachers/students:: Learning connections Thefollowingactivitiescanbeadapted /adoptedforvisit /post-visituse:
VisualArts
Studio/Artspractice• Havingviewedtheexhibitioncheckitoutonemoretimetoseeifthere’sanideaortechnique
(inawork)thatyoucouldtrywhenyougetbacktoschooloryourstudio.
• NoraHeysenalwaysconsideredthewayherpicturesworkedascompositions.Tryproducingsomeimageswhichdeliberatelyuseormanipulatecompositionalelements.
• Heysenoftenusedcolourrelationshipsasameansoforganisingandaddinginteresttoherimages.Tryproducingsomeimageswhichdeliberatelyexplorerelationshipsbetweencolours.
• Trycompletingastilllifepaintingoffreshlycutorgatheredflowers(oraplant)whichcapturesthefreshnessofthesubjectbeforethebloomsfadeandwilt.
• TryproducingaworkwhichmakesdeliberateuseofPost-Impressionistideasandtechniques
• InlaterlifeNoraHeysenfoundinspirationandsubjectsinlifearoundheratHuntersHill.Seeifyoucanmakeaworkofartbasedonsubjectsdrawnfromyourownpersonalsurroundings.
• Inherworkasawarartist,NoraHeysenessentiallyfocusedonindividualsmakingtheircontribution.Considerusingthisasastartingpointforsomeofyourownworkusinglocaleventsorissuesasastartingpoint.
Personalresponse/analysisofworks• Selectoneworkthatappealsinsomewayandtellsomeoneelseyourreasonsforyourselection.
• Writeareviewoftheexhibitionwhichexploresthelinksorrelationshipsbetweentheworks.Youmightfindthe‘Explore’themesinthisResourceausefulstartingpointforthis.
• Theartisthassaidthatherartwasessentiallyabout‘lightandlife’.Howsuccessfuldoyouthinkshewasinachievingthis?
• Writeorpresentaformalanalysisofaselectedworkusingaspectslistedin‘Keysforlooking’inthisResourceasareference.
• CompareasmallselectionofHeysen’sworktodemonstratehowtheartist’sideasandstylechangedovertime.
Arthistory/Artincontext• StilllifeisasignificantgenreortraditionwithinartoftheEuropeantradition.Asastudentofthistradition
NoraHeysenadoptedmanyofitsconventionsandtechniques.Seeifyoucanidentifysomeofthem.
• HeysenwasanAustralianwarartist.Havetherebeenothers?HavetherebeenotherAustralianwomenwarartists?TheAustralianWarMemorialsitewww.awm.gov.auwillbeausefulstartingpoint.
• ThisResourceincludesthenamesofanumberofwomenartistswhomadeasignificantcontributiontoAustralia’sacceptanceofmodernartinthefirsthalfofthetwentiethcentury(see‘Meettheartist:Incontext’inthisResource).Considerresearchingoneoftheseartiststofindoutmoreaboutthekindofarttheyproduced.
• TheartisthadashockwhentoldbyOrovidaPissarrothatherworkwasfiftyyearsoutofdate.WhydoyouthinkOrovidasaidthis?
5
22 nora heysen: light and lifeEducationResource
![Page 25: Nora Heysen - Carrick Hill · Nora Heysen is regarded as one of Australia’s premier portrait and still-life artists. Born in 1911, the fourth of Hans and Selma (Sallie) Heysen’s](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042920/5f66e13dc26416747d4c4261/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
Society• Australiansocietyofthefirsthalfofthetwentiethcenturyfoundmostformsofmodernarttobe
incomprehensible,confrontingandeven‘dangerous’.Whywasthisso?
• NoraHeysen,asadaughterandfemaleartist,wasconsciousofalways‘workinginherfather’sshadow’.Doyouthinkthesekindsofthingsremainanissueorchallengeforyoungwomenaspiringtodeveloptheirowncareerstoday?
Literacy/EnglishAnalysingworksorreportinganddebatingfindingsrelatedtoviewingworkswillrequirestudentstomakeeffectiveuseoflanguageandwritingskills.Analysingandrespondingwillalsoallowstudentstolearnmoreaboutartasapowerfulformofcommunication.
Listeningandspeaking• SelectoneofthesuggestedthemesinthisResource(e.g.Stilllife,Australiansatwar)andgiveashort
presentationwhichanalysessomeworkswithinthisthematiccontext.
• Canartreallycaptureorexpress‘artandlife’?Orisitjustinthemindoftheartistortheviewer?Organiseadebateabouttheideaofbeauty.Setthisdebatewithinthecontextofaquestion(e.g.shouldwereallybelievewhatartistssay?).
• SomepeoplecommissionedHeysentopaintflowerstilllifesonthebasisthattheywantedtoownsomethingbeautifultolookat.Whydosomepeoplebelieveflowerstobebeautiful?Wheredoesthisideacomefrom?Whyshouldflowersgetsingledoutforspecialtreatment?Isallnatureequallybeautiful?Considerorganisingadebatearoundthesequestions.
Writing• Writeawalllabeltextforoneormoreworksintheexhibitionusingyourpersonalresponse
asastartingpoint.
• Writeashortpiecewhichimaginesthethoughtsandfeelingsoccurringwithintheartist’smindassheworkedonapainting.
23 nora heysen: light and lifeEducationResource
![Page 26: Nora Heysen - Carrick Hill · Nora Heysen is regarded as one of Australia’s premier portrait and still-life artists. Born in 1911, the fourth of Hans and Selma (Sallie) Heysen’s](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042920/5f66e13dc26416747d4c4261/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
For teachers/students: Get started (in the exhibition) Thefollowingtasksaredesignedtosupport/initiatestructuredviewingandengagementforstudentsintheexhibition.Theycanbeundertakeninanyorderandaresuitableforindividualandsmallgroupwork.Implicitinsometasksistheideathatstudentsorgroupswillreportfindingsanddiscussworkswithothers.Scribingisnotnecessarytoundertaketheseactivitiesbutsomeofthesetaskscouldinvolvescribingtosupporton-goingpost-visitwork.
Firstandlastimpressions• Whatdidyouthinkaboutwhenyoufirstcameintotheexhibitionandlookedaround?
• Wasthereanyworkinparticularyouwantedtolookatorreturntoandlookatagain?Whydoyouthinkthishappened?
• Isthereaworkinthisexhibitionthatyouthinkyouwillneverforgetorfindhardtoforget?
• Beforeleavingcheckouttheexhibitiononemoretimetoseeifthere’sanideaortechniqueinaworkthatyoucouldtrywhenyougetbacktoschool
Thinkabout• Whenyoufindyourselfwantingtolookatsomeworksinparticulardothinkitisbecausetheimage
orsubjectisinterestingorisitbecauseoftheartist’stechniqueorwayofinterpretingthesubject
• Ifdisasterstrikesyoucouldsaveoneworkfromthisexhibition,whichonewouldyousaveandwhy?
Easy?• Whichworkwastheeasiestandwhichworkwasthehardesttomake–andwhy?
Analysisandresponse(individualwork/s)Chooseanyworkthatattractsyourattentionandapplyanyorallofthefollowingquestions
• Arethevisualqualitiesofthisworkappealinginanyway?
• Canyouseeanykindofconnectionbetweenthiskindofartandothersyouknowabout?
• Whatdoyouthinkthisworkisaboutormightbesaying?
• Writeacaption(extendedwalllabel)foraselectedworkbasedonyourownpersonalresponse,feelingsorinterpretation.
• Hasthisgivenyouanideaforsomethingyoucouldmakeaspartofyourartstudies?
• Selectoneworkthatappealsinsomewayandtellsomeoneelseyourreasonsforyourselection.
Analysisandresponse(theexhibition)• Writeareviewoftheexhibitionwhichexploresthelinksorrelationshipsbetweentheworks.
• Chooseoneofthethemessuggestedinthe‘Explore’sectionofthisEducationResourceandreviewtheexhibitionfromthisperspective.
• Arethereotherthemes(notidentifiedinthisResource)whichcouldapplytothisselectionofwork.
• Writeapressreleaseforthisexhibition.
• Comparetwoormoreworkswhichappeartobeexploringsimilarideasindifferentways.
24 nora heysen: light and lifeEducationResource
5
![Page 27: Nora Heysen - Carrick Hill · Nora Heysen is regarded as one of Australia’s premier portrait and still-life artists. Born in 1911, the fourth of Hans and Selma (Sallie) Heysen’s](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042920/5f66e13dc26416747d4c4261/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
Research and further resources ResearchforthisEducationResourceisdrawnprimarilyfromthefollowingpublicationproducedinassociationwiththeNora Heysen: Light and lifeexhibitionatCarrickHill,Adelaide2008 – 09.
Hylton,Jane,Nora Heysen: Art and life,WakefieldPress,Adelaide,2009
OtherrecommendedtextsEagle,Mary,Modern Australian painting between the wars,BayBooks,Sydney,1989
Gray,Anna,Send me more paint!,AustralianWarMemorial,Canberra,1989
Hylton,Jane,South Australian women artists: Paintings from the 1890s to 1940,ArtGalleryBoardofSouthAustralia,Adelaide,1994
Hylton,Jane,Modern Australian women: paintings and prints, 1925 – 1945,ArtGalleryBoardofSouthAustralia,Adelaide,2000
Klepac,Lou,Nora Heysen,NationalLibraryofAustralia,Canberra,2000
Klepac,Lou,Nora Heysen,TheBeaglePress,Sydney,1989
Recommendedwebsiteswww.nla.gov.au NationalLibraryofAustralia,Canberra
Searchunder‘NoraHeysen’.ThissitecontainsanextensiveNoraHeysenprofile(andlinkededucationmaterials)andresourcesrelatedtootherAustralianwarartists.
www.awm.gov.au AustralianWarMemorial,Canberra
www.artgallery.sa.gov.au ArtGalleryofSouthAustralia,AdelaideSearchunder‘Education’foreducationresourceslinkedtotheexhibitionsHans HeysenandModern Australian women: paintings and prints, 1925 – 1945.
www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au ArtGalleryofNewSouthWales,SydneyLookforthe‘SelfPortrait’on-lineeducationresource.
6
25 nora heysen: light and lifeEducationResource