Lot 19

In good condition with no visible signs of repair, water mark lower left corner, area of discolouration to the left of signature lower right, no fluorescence under UV light, unexamined out of frame. (74 x 93cm framed)


The opinions expressed in the condition reports are a guide only and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Prospective buyers are encouraged to seek further information or request additional images during our pre-sale period where Leonard Joel staff are available for advice. Please note condition reports can be amended during the pre-sale period, so we strongly suggest any interested bidders check the published condition report available on the website before the auction commences. Leonard Joel makes no guarantee of the originality of mechanical or applied components. Absence of reference to such modifications does not imply that a lot is free from modifications.

Rex Irwin Art Dealer, Sydney
Private collection, Sydney

Fred Williams was a painter and printmaker whose distinctive vision and innovative style reinvented the way the Australian landscape was viewed and represented. His subject matter was always derived from something he had observed outside as he strove to depict the underlying "bones" of the Australian continent. He developed a visual language which involved the reduction of form in the landscape to a series of abstract motifs. In the present lot we see the soft crest of a hill as denoted by a single almost unbroken line. The landscape is dotted with ambiguous strokes of paint and as your eye attempts to discern the pattern of these strokes the imagery of rocks, trees and a blustery wind appear and disappear before you. The subtle play of colour and texture produce an atmospheric composition characteristic of Williams' unique approach.