Still Life

Andrew Frost

The still life is one of the oldest genres of painting, predating both portraiture and landscape and it’s still widely practiced today. The subject of the still life painting is a closely observed arrangement of objects using flowers or food. Since the subject matter of the still life is highly restricted the technique and approach of the individual artist is highlighted and is perhaps one reason why so many artists have been drawn to it, first to tackle one of the most venerable of genres, and second, to leave their stamp on it.

The Art Gallery of NSW’s Still Life exhibition brings together works from the collection and shows the amazing diversity of approaches in the genre.  Among the works are classicists such as Hans and Nora Heysen from the 1920s and ‘30s, whose paintings stay close to the visual formula and displaying their formidable technique in oils, while mid century artists such as John Brack produced work with a graphic edge and unerring eye for detail. More recent painters such as Kevin Lincoln and Elisabeth Cummins produce more formally abstract interpretations.

Until January 19

The Art Gallery of NSW, The Domain

http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/still-life/

Pic: John Brack, Mirrors and Scissors, 1966. Etching, black ink on ivory wove paper, 33×45 cms.