'In the Cave', Sir Sidney Nolan

Artwork details

Artist

Sir Sidney Nolan (1917‑1992)

Title

In the Cave

Date 1957

MediumPolyvinyl acetate paint on hardboard

Dimensionssupport: 1219 x 1524 mm

Collection

Tate

Acquisition Presented by Lord McAlpine of West Green 1983

Reference

T03557

Not on display

Display caption

In 1957 Nolan began using a new medium: polyvinyl acetate. PVA is a synthetic medium which can be used thickly or thinned with water. It was an ideal vehicle for Nolan's painting process. This involves laying down pigment, and then scrubbing, scraping and sponging the paint surface, encouraging the formation of images which are then elaborated. One aspect of the Eliza Fraser story which particularly fascinated Nolan was the bizarre conjunction of a naked white woman and a convict dressed in striped prison uniform. In this painting Mrs Fraser appears as an aboriginal cave drawing while Bracefell emerges from a niche in the rock.

August 2004