J J Hilder
(Australia 23 Jul 1881–Apr 1916)
Ploughing
- Location
- Not on display
- Further information
"His power of selection never left him. He instinctively avoided the obvious and commonplace in nature and the simplest thing always appealed to him. A group of trees, a broken sliprail, an old stable, a man working in a clay pit. They sound commonplace, but seen through Hilder's eyes they are transformed into something beautiful. "
Sydney Ure Smith, 1916
With a sweeping perspective, Hilder accentuates the large cumulous cloud surging at centre - encouraging speculation on the untilled field beyond. The horses appear shrouded in a hot vapour as they pull the plough languidly across the land. Through Hilder's wet wash technique the pigment appears almost to meld with the fibres of the paper. Using mostly cool colours he miraculously creates a sweaty heat that hangs on this symbol of rural labour, the ploughman.
- Year
- 1910
- Media
- Watercolour
- Medium
- watercolour on paper
- Dimensions
- 22.9 x 29.1cm sheet; 45.2 x 52.2 x 1.7cm frame
- Signature & date
- Signed and dated l.r. corner, grey watercolour "J.J.HILDER/ 1910".
- Credit
- Bequest of Dr and Mrs Sinclair Gillies 1952
- Accession number
- 8977
