We all know about Hans Heysen, the South Australian artist famous for his watercolours of gum trees, we know less about his daughter Nora. She was an artist too, and a great one, with some noteable firsts. The first woman to win the famous Archibald Prize for portraiture (in 1938). In 1943 she was appointed to be our first official woman war artist, and produced 62 wonderful paintings and 102 drawings of our women’s services in the Pacific theatre of war. Her beautiful flower paintings, and her still lifes, are probably her most intimate works. Her friends included artists Camille Pissaro (through his daughter) and Jeffrey Smart. Her life was unconventional and fragmented, and very interesting to anyone who wants to understand the life of an artist. This fascinating book, with colour reproductions of Nora Heysen’s works, will make a wonderful gift.
Share on Twitter Share on Facebook