Visual arts

Just digitised: Aileen Brown’s linocuts

Just digitised: Aileen Brown’s linocuts

December 22, 2023

Digitisation, Visual arts:

Explore the wonderful summery artworks of Aileen Brown, and see how her intricate linocut prints are made.

Fred Lowen, Dunera boy.

Fred Lowen, Dunera boy.

August 16, 2023

Arts & literature, Collection spotlights, Such was life, Uncategorized, Visual arts, War:

The Dunera internees – the Dunera Boys – made a significant contribution to Australian cultural life – Fred Lowen was one of these men, read on to learn some of his story, and see his evocative artworks.
Image: The potato peelers, H91.350/8

Helena Bochořáková-Dittrichova – a pioneer of the wordless form

Helena Bochořáková-Dittrichova – a pioneer of the wordless form

January 18, 2023

Collection, New books, Rare Books & Arts, Visual arts:

The Library’s Rare Books Collection holds many wordless graphic novels by masters of the form, including the recent addition of the first wordless graphic novel by a woman.

Vali Myers: Australian artist

Vali Myers: Australian artist

March 1, 2022

Painting, Visual arts:

Vali Myers (1930-2003) was known as a free-thinking artist and dancer who lived a unique bohemian life that was true to herself. Her archive held by the Library spans her life overseas and her return to Australia.

Journey through the collection: Ashton’s 19th century sketchbook

Journey through the collection: Ashton’s 19th century sketchbook

November 26, 2021

Collection spotlights, Victorian history, Visual arts:

A little sketchbook with a lot of stories. How did the newsworthy events of the 1880s go from pocket sketches to newspaper illustrations?

A modernist pastiche: Matisse’s etchings for Joyce

A modernist pastiche: Matisse’s etchings for Joyce

September 13, 2021

New books, Rare Books & Arts, Visual arts:

Read about an audacious collaboration between Henri Matisse and James Joyce for the Limited Editions Club.

Journey through the collection: swinging ‘60s Melbourne through the lens of Henry Talbot

Journey through the collection: swinging ‘60s Melbourne through the lens of Henry Talbot

September 10, 2021

Collection spotlights, Photography, Visual arts:

Muse over the iconic, mid-century photographs of Henry Talbot. Featuring the fashion and advertising world of 1950s and 60s Melbourne.

Max Meldrum, the Meldrumites and Montsalvat

Max Meldrum, the Meldrumites and Montsalvat

October 31, 2018

Painting, Rare Books & Arts, Visual arts:

One of Australia’s most famous artists of the time, Max Meldrum even had followers with their own nickname, the Meldrumites. But with his vocal opinions he was not without detractors and controversy. Read about his influence on the artists that formed Montsalvat.

Decca, 2016, c1971

New Sights and Sounds: Rigoletto, Walkabout, and much more

April 2, 2018

Music, Popular music, Rare Books & Arts, Visual arts:

Some great new arrivals in Arts include latest releases in art documentary, pop, rock, jazz, classical, opera, musical theatre and film soundtracks in various audio and video formats such as CD, DVD, Blu-Ray and online… Read More ›

Out of Ireland have we come: the arts in a century of change

Out of Ireland have we come: the arts in a century of change

March 18, 2016

Photography, Rare Books & Arts, Updates, Visual arts:

As the State Library celebrates the anniversary of the Easter Rising in Dublin, 1916, it seems appropriate to look at how Irish artists have transformed their culture over the course of a not uneventful century.