London born etcher, Henri Van Raalte (1881–1929), Over The Hill (Lot 18 ) moved to Perth in 1910 and was soon to establish himself as the pioneer of Australian etching, in a post-federation and pre-modern period. By 1918 Art and Australia had published his work and the Art Gallery of NSW had purchased three of his prints. Van Raatle’s etchings are well recognised for his depiction of Western Australian’s natural landscapes. Van Raalte in 1922 moved to Adelaide where he took up the position of Curator at the Art Gallery of South Australia.
Irene Carter (1900-1954), Early Morning Mosman Bay (Lot 94,) a Western Australian artist and art teacher, who later in life studied and exhibited in Italy. Upon returning to Perth Irene exhibited in Victoria and NSW. Irene’s art has been collected by the City of Perth and the Art Gallery of Western Australia to represent women artists and their representation of our changing landscape in the first half of the 20th century.
Upon returning to Perth after World War II, Wagin born, Guy Grey-Smith (1916-1981) Fish Mofit (Lot 41 ) formed, with other prominent artists of this period in Perth, The Perth Group where he promoted English Modernism. Guy-Grey used his cubist approach to the Western Australian landscape, in which both he was heavily influenced.
A member of ‘Perth Society of Artists” Katherine Jarvis (1910-2002) Roe Street (Lot 21 ) is a snapshot of Norhtbridge in the 1950s. This modernist streetscape depicts a scene long disappeared from today’s landscape.
Born in Melbourne and served in WWI with the 14th Battallion, AIF on the Western Front, watercolour artist Cyril Lander (1892-1983) South Perth River (Lot 29 ) was, during WWII, transferred to Western Australia where he took up painting. Lander was a member of The Perth Society of Artists and a Fellow of the Royal South Australian Society of Artists. He won numerous prizes for his watercolours and is represented in many major collections including National Gallery of Victoria and the Art Gallery of Western Australia.
Drawing her inspiration from the environment prominent Western Australian artist Jann Rowley Oz Panel (Lot 53 ), works through the textures and colours of ancient landscapes to create a contemporary impression of her work; Jann’s work has been bought up by over 50 national and international important corporate collections.
The history of landscapes in art not only shows us how radically the world changes around us, but how we as individuals evolve to our current contemporary environment. Although this auction will not be high yielding it is full of important historical artwork relating to our environment
