Lot 5

Private collection, Melbourne
Thence by descent

Bloomin' Art, Wollongong City Gallery, New South Wales, December 2002 – May 2003 (another impression)
Australian Collection Focus: Colour, Rhythm, Design - wood & lino cuts of the 20s & 30s, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 12 March – 11 July 2010 (another impression)
In Bloom, Gippsland Art Gallery, Victoria, 19 August – 14 September 2014 (another impression)
Morning, Noon and Light, Latrobe Regional Gallery, Victoria, 13 July – 13 October 2019 (another impression)

Ure-Smith, S., Gellert, L., Margaret Preston: Recent Paintings, Art & Australia, Sydney, 1929 pl. 6 (illus., as ‘Jug of Flowers', another impression), accompanied by an original edition of Ure-Smith, S., Gellert, L., Margaret Preston: Recent Paintings, Art in Australia, Sydney 1929, ed. 50/250
Butler, R., The Prints of Margaret Preston: A Catalogue Raisonné, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, 2006, cat. no. 137, pp. 152, 153 (illus., another impression)
Nainby, B., Stanhope, Z., Furlonger, K., The Cbus Collection of Australian Art, in association with Latrobe Regional Gallery, Melbourne, 2009, pp. 19, 230 (illus., another impression)
Campbell, H., Colour, Rhythm, Design: wood and lino cuts of the 20s & 30s, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 2010, p. 11 (illus., another impression)

Accompanied by an original edition of Ure-Smith, S., Gellert, L., Margaret Preston: Recent Paintings, Art in Australia, Sydney 1929, ed. 50/250

Other impressions of this print are held in the permanent collections of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney; Queensland Art Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane; National Gallery of Australia, Canberra; and Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth.

The 1920s witnessed a remarkable emergence of modernist women artists, with Margaret Preston shining brightly among them. She played a pivotal role in shaping Australian modernism by embracing modern decorative organisation and design, emerging as a prominent figure in the progressive art movement of that era.

The artist created woodcuts through every phase of her artistic career, however it is those of the 1920s that represent her most refined achievements to the medium. Preston skillfully utilised the inherent qualities of woodcuts to create her unique and recognisable artworks. Although she was aware of the alternate technique of using multiple blocks for colour woodcuts, Preston predominantly worked with a single block, utilising the black ink for printing and adding colour by hand afterward, allowing her to devote more attention to the compositional aspects. This process enabled her woodcuts to be chatacterised by bold lines, strong forms, and simplified compositions, reflecting the influence of traditional Japanese printmaking.

In a significant milestone for Margaret Preston, her woodcut prints gained widespread recognition when they were featured in a dedicated issue of 'Art in Australia' magazine in 1927. The publication highlighted Preston's artistic significance and introduced her beautifully coloured prints of native flora and fauna to a diverse audience interested in decorative art and interior design. The inclusion of her prints in this issue showcased the growing appreciation for this modern style and artistic expression in the Australian home during the era.

In 1929, 'Art in Australia' published a book "Margaret Preston: recent paintings 1929", for release in time for Christmas. The publication showcased fourteen large colour plates of Preston's recent work, including reproductions of her woodcut prints. The book was promoted extensively and hailed as a unique offering in Australian publishing. Limited to 250 copies, it included one original woodcut print 'Flowers in Jug', which were individually printed, hand-coloured and signed by the artist.

In 'Flowers in Jug', Preston retains the small details such as the black outline to each flower creating a sense of depth amongst the density and richness of the paint. Through the careful placement of each flower and contrasting colours, Preston creates a harmonised and balanced woocut which remains today one of her most beloved.

Hannah Ryan
Prints and Multiples Specialist

© Margaret Preston/Copyright Agency, 2023