Man absorbed in landscape
1966
Medium
oil on composition board
Measurements
122.1 × 126.0 cm
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
The Joseph Brown Collection. Presented through the NGV Foundation by Dr Joseph Brown AO OBE, Honorary Life Benefactor, 2004
© John Olsen/Licensed by VISCOPY, Australia
Gallery location
Gallery 19
Level 3, NGV Australia
About this work
In 1966 Olsen and his family spent more than four months in Portugal, living in a small village near Portalegre, where the Fini tapestry atelier was weaving his You beaut tapestries. Both painting and title are puns on the idea of man contemplating nature in the Romantic tradition, man as an animistic being from tribal legend, and the Earth as all-embracing mother.
Artwork Details
Place/s of Execution
Portugal
Inscription
inscribed in brown paint l.l.: John / Olsen '66
inscribed in chalk on reverse u.l.: MAN ABSORBED / IN LANDSCAPE
Accession Number
2004.200
Department
Australian Painting
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Vizard Foundation
Subjects (general)
Abstract Art Human Figures Landscapes
Subjects (specific)
colours (hues or tints) flora (plants) lines (artistic concept) men (male humans) silhouettes