Untitled (abstract)

Exploring the foundation elements of line, shape and colour, this drawing witnesses Nolan's early efforts to create a modernist language that drew upon everything that interested him – from art to elements in the everyday world around him. In particular, it relate to Nolan's 'Luna Park' painting (also in the Art gallery of New South Wales collection), sharing its source in the linear ironwork frame of the Big Dipper at Melbourne’s celebrated Luna Park funfair in St Kilda.

Nolan's search for innovative form and structure led him to try a range of drawing media from crayon, gouache, watercolour and pastel to oil and enamel paints – and to make his drawings, paintings or prints on paper of different textures and densities from tissue paper, through glossy art and photographic paper to blotting paper (as in this case) or even glass.