University LibraryPrint Collection

Title:

Julia's Monkey exhibition label

Narrative 1

Narrative:

Norman Lindsay’s art was influenced by Greek and Roman mythology, the philosophy of Frederich Nietzsche, and an abiding passion for the music of Wolfgang Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven and Richard Wagner. Artistically, Lindsay studied from the original prints of Albrecht Dürer and Rembrandt van Rijn. For this print, the use of a halo or pool of light juxtaposed against a rich shadowy background echoes Rembrandt’s stylistic techniques in adding dramatic effect to a static composition. Lindsay achieved great depth to the shadows and background of his print without losing detail in the drapery, hair and monkey’s fur through a combination of soft ground and stipple techniques. Working in isolation from contemporary art practices, Lindsay’s personal iconography is more aligned with French Symbolist ideas that championed representation of dreams, fantasy and imagination over Modernist ideas of exploring perceptions of everyday life through abstraction of form.

Authors:

Fung, Viona

McKean, Monica

Type:

Student exhibition

Objects:

Julia's Monkey