Title
The awakening of Australian art
1907
Artist
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Details
- Date
- 1907
- Media category
- Sculpture
- Materials used
- 3 bronze medallions
- Dimensions
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29.5 cm part a diameter; 29.5 cm part b diameter; 5.2 cm part c diameter
:
a - The awakening of Australian art, 29.5 cm
b - The awakening of Australian art, 29.5 cm
c - recto, The awakeing of Australian art; verso, The awakening of Australian art, 5.2 cm
Frame dimensions previously noted refer to a presentation frame housing all 3 objects, since dismantled and destroyed.
- Signature & date
Signed and dated l.c., incised "DORA OHLFSEN 1907" part a; l.l. , incised "DORA OHLFSEN 1907" part b; l.c., incised recto "DORAH OHLFSEN 1907"; l.l., incised verso "DORA OHLFSEN 1907"
- Credit
- Purchased 1910
- Location
- Not on display
- Accession number
- 1195.a-c
- Copyright
- Artist information
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Dora Ohlfsen
Works in the collection
- Share
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About
Dora Ohlfsen’s medal 'The awakening of Australia art' 1907, garnered her international recognition. Exhibited in Paris, it was acquired by the French government for the Petit Palais. It was Ohlfen’s first work to enter a public collection. The following year, the medal received an award at the Franco-British exhibition in London. Initially rejected by the trustees of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, it was eventually purchased in 1909-10.
Though the richest opportunities for her work were in Europe, Ohlfsen often spoke of her love for Australia. Here she captures what she described as its palpable ‘feeling of newness and vitality and power. Australians … desire to get everything out of life. We are untrammelled by traditions.’
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Exhibition history
Shown in 2 exhibitions
Australian sculpture 1890-1919, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 22 Jan 1987–22 Feb 1987
Dora Ohlfsen and the facade commission, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 12 Oct 2019–08 Mar 2020
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Bibliography
Referenced in 2 publications
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Deborah Edwards., Australian sculpture 1890-1919, 'Australian sculpture 1890-1919', Sydney, 1987, (illus.). no catalogue numbers, not paginated
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The British-Australasian, 'Portraits in medals. Miss Dora Ohlfsen describes a rare and difficult art', pg. 7, London, 26 Jul 1906, 7.
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