Articles by: Olga Tsara

Beauty spots: from facial flaws to fashion statements

Beauty spots: from facial flaws to fashion statements

September 6, 2018

Social life & customs, Such was life, Theatre:

Under the eye or the corner of the mouth? Does the position of your beauty spot mean you are a flirt, engaged or just cheeky? Stars, pigs and horses; from the eighteenth century onward, the beauty spot has an alluring past.

The breaking of the drought: silent movies and photography

The breaking of the drought: silent movies and photography

July 30, 2018

Arts & literature, Such was life:

The Library has digitised some wonderful photographs taken during the filming of the 1920 Australian silent movie, ‘The breaking of the drought.’ Melodrama, song, dance, water ballet, seduction, ruin and redemption; this movie has it all. And a happy ending too.

Sybil Craig: a life in pictures

Sybil Craig: a life in pictures

March 7, 2018

Arts & literature, Such was life:

Melbourne artist Sybil Craig became one of the first women war artists in Australia. The Library holds Sybil’s archive which contains over 1700 photographs and more than 280 works on paper, many of which are now online.

The art of shadows: Andrew Macredie’s silhouettes

The art of shadows: Andrew Macredie’s silhouettes

December 1, 2017

People & professions, Such was life:

In the 1850’s, cartoonist and illustrator Andrew Macredie created two volumes of beautiful silhouettes depicting his Banyenong neighbours, local pastoralists and their wives.

Ruth Hollick and early Australian fashion photography

Ruth Hollick and early Australian fashion photography

August 30, 2017

Arts & literature, Such was life:

Ruth Hollick is noted for her portraits of children and of Melbourne society’s elite as well as creating some of the earliest known fashion photographs in Australia.

Australian ornithologists in Siberia

Australian ornithologists in Siberia

April 28, 2017

People & professions, Such was life:

In 1903 the Australian ornithologist Robert Hall (1867-1949) embarked on his major expedition to Siberia (via Japan and Korea), to collect specimens and eggs of Siberian birds known to migrate… Read More ›

The politics of poster making: the RedPlanet archive

The politics of poster making: the RedPlanet archive

November 11, 2016

People & professions, Such was life:

The years 1992 and 1993, when RedPlanet artists produced 24 house posters, can arguably be called the golden years of poster design in Australia.

WWI posters from the Library’s collection

WWI posters from the Library’s collection

April 21, 2016

Arts & literature, Such was life:

State Library Victoria has a significant collection of British, French and Australian WWI posters. As the war progressed, changes emerge in the content and themes of the images; through recruitment, the symbolism of women and to our heroes on the Front.

The discovery of a plan

The discovery of a plan

February 17, 2016

Buildings & streets, People & professions, Such was life:

Edna Walling created beautiful watercolour designs of her gardens and now Manuscripts staff have just discovered another one, found in the papers of a former Victorian Premier.

The Howard Arkley Archive

The Howard Arkley Archive

December 14, 2015

People & professions, Such was life:

Howard Arkley (1951-1999) is acknowledged as one of the most important artists in contemporary Australian art. His archive was acquired by the Library in 2011 and consists of hundreds of drawings, sketches, watercolours, photographs and diaries which give insights into Arkley’s planning processes, influences and reading.