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Issue Details: First known date: 2019... 2019 William Barak’s Paintings at State Library Victoria
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'The beat of clap sticks and possum-skin drums fills the air as rows of warriors dance and sing in time to the percussion. Two bright fires glow in the centre of this gathering; nearby the director of ceremonies takes centre stage, wrapped in his possum-skin cloak. This is the scene of celebration presented in a painting by Aboriginal Australian artist William Barak (c. 1824–1903). The artwork in State Library Victoria’s care has been executed in blue pigment, red ochre and black charcoal on a canvas of thick cardboard. Barak applied the paint so thickly that it stands out in three dimensions, like that of an Impressionist work. Another painting, which uses the same thick card as a canvas, also depicts a scene of grouped figures wearing cloaks. Instead of dancing, they stand tall, holding jagged spears and other weapons. A kangaroo and an emu are present; the figures wear lyre bird feathers in their hair: to this observer the painting shows hunting and social arrangements within the community. (Introduction)

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon The La Trobe Journal no. 103 September 2019 18026093 2019 periodical issue

    'In issue No 103 of the La Trobe Journal, Nikita Vanderbyl looks at the work of Aboriginal Australian artist William Barak, while Myles Russell-Cook gives a personal reflection on the artist.

    'Catherine Padmore revisits the archive of Joan Lindsay, author of Picnic at Hanging Rock, and Patricia Clarke tells the story of Frances Taylor, founder and editor of the journal Woman's world. Edited by Shona Dewar, the reminiscences of Ursula O’Connor look back at her influential 38-year career as a librarian at the Library.

    'Libby Melzer describes the production and likely origin of a remarkable 13th-century pocket Bible, one of the first medieval manuscripts acquired by the Library. Finally, the editor of this issue, Shane Carmody, tells the story of the library of Carlos Barron Lumsden, one volume of which was recently acquired by the Library.' (Journal abstract)

    2019
    pg. 6-23
Last amended 18 Oct 2019 08:44:06
6-23 William Barak’s Paintings at State Library Victoriasmall AustLit logo The La Trobe Journal
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