Artists and their artworks Flashcards
Ben Quilty- Background
Australian contemporary artist.
Born 1973.
Known for expressive and gestural brushstrokes.
Ben Quilty- theme
Australian identity, masculinity, war, trauma, and personal narratives.
Ben Quilty- technique
Oil
Often paints with thick impasto to emphasize texture and emotion.
uses a variety of tools including cake-decorating tool and aerosol can
High Tide Mark (2016)
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 70.5 x 160.4 cm
Example of Quilty’s use of impasto and thick paint application.
Symbolism: Themes of loss and destruction, possibly linked to environmental concerns.
Emotive use of colour and large gestural brushstrokes to convey power and raw energy.
Reflects Quilty’s exploration of the human condition and memory.
Beast 2 (2005)
Medium: Oil on linen
Dimensions: 120.0 x 100.0 cm
Expressive portrait-like representation of masculinity and inner conflict.
Use of distorted forms and bold colours to create tension.
Commentary on male identity, particularly Australian masculinity.
Thick layers of paint, emphasizing texture and the physical act of painting.
Vincent van Gogh- background
Dutch post-impressionist painter.
Lived from 1853 to 1890.
Famous for expressive use of colour, texture, and emotional depth.
Vincent van Gogh- theme
Themes often focused on landscapes, still lifes, and personal expression through nature.
Vincent van Gogh- technique
oil
Developed a distinctive style of swirling, dynamic brushstrokes.
Wheat Field with Cypresses (1889)
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 73.2 x 93.4 cm
Painted during van Gogh’s stay at an asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.
Swirling sky and bold brushstrokes are typical of van Gogh’s style.
The cypress trees, often symbolizing death or eternity, stand against a vibrant wheat field.
Reflects van Gogh’s emotional state, with vivid colour contrasts and intense movement in the landscape.
Irises (1890)
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 92.7 x 73.9 cm
Created in the final year of van Gogh’s life.
Part of a series exploring nature’s beauty.
Brilliant blue irises set against a muted background, showing van Gogh’s mastery of contrasting colours.
Loose brushstrokes give the flowers a sense of movement, emphasizing the lively energy of nature.
Symbolism may be related to hope or emotional distress.
John Peter Russell- background
Australian impressionist painter, born in 1858 and died in 1930.
Worked in Europe, particularly in France, alongside artists like Van Gogh and Monet.
John Peter Russel- theme
Russell’s work is nature, particularly the landscape and seascape, with a strong focus on light and colour. often explore the changing effects of light on the natural environment,
John Peter Russel- technique
oil
Known for capturing vibrant light and colour in landscapes.
Influenced by impressionism and post-impressionism.
Roc Toul (Roche Guibel) (1904-1905)
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 98.4 x 128 cm
Depicts a coastal scene with vibrant colours.
Uses broad, impressionistic brushstrokes to capture the shifting light and atmosphere of the landscape.
Reflects Russell’s connection to the French impressionist movement, especially in the emphasis on capturing natural light and colour dynamics.
Sea and Sky (Mer et Ciel) (1902)
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 65.3 x 81.1 cm
Highlights Russell’s fascination with the sea and sky as subjects.
Use of layered blues and subtle gradations in tone to create depth and movement.
Impressionist technique of capturing the fleeting effects of light on water.
Simple yet evocative, showing Russell’s skill in distilling the essence of nature into expressive forms.
