Lot 27

The Collection of Gordon Darling
Thence by descent
Private collection, Melbourne

Constance Stokes never referred to herself as a 'female artist', in her eyes she was 'just an artist'. She did not want to be confined to that category or join any women artist's society groups. She wanted to stand for her own talent, not gender.

A technique taught by George Bell, Constance perfected a glazing method that combined lustre and texture to her work, rich in colour and luminosity. Focusing on different subjects, Constance was most known for her paintings of women, all distinguished by warmth and intimacy.

The use of a metal sheet for the subject of Untitled (Seated Woman) was a common occurrence during the period. After the second World War, the availability of art materials was scarce, and she was encouraged by her husband Eric who was in supply of a small amount of metal that was no longer needed for military purposes. Constance used this as an experimental process, to adapt and transfuse her glazing and antipasto techniques upon the sheet and often experimenting with a similar subject upon canvas.

Hannah Ryan
Art Specialist