Nora Heysen   The Cedars 1911-1933  
  London 1934-1937
 
 
Education Material: Year 11-12 Art   The Chalet 1947-present  
The War 1943-1946  
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Pure Colour: A look at Heysen's palette

Impressionism and Post Impressionism saw a move away from traditional painting methods. Traditional painting styles often used sombre tones and compositions lacking in vitality or life. Heysen was taught traditional painting techniques first by her father, Hans Heysen and later during her stay in London.

Use the following artists as stimulus material: Monet, Seurat, Manet and Degas.

Show students examples of the artists' work that use pure colour.

Brainstorm with students their colour theories, looking at colours used and the way shadows can be created without using black or brown.

From the website, show students the following Heysen works:

  • Corn Cobs 1938
  • Freesias 1985
  • Peaches 1989

Select any others that show the use of pure colour.

Ask students to consider the following quote:

You can see the difference in the fruit I’m painting now – it has more vibration and is more brilliant – painted with a palette consisting of white, cadmium red and pale ultramarine, vert compose, cobalt and crimson – that is all. It is amazing the depth and richness of colours that can be got without using brown or black.

Nora Heysen, October 1935
Heysen Papers Ms 5073, National Library of Australia

Practical

Set up a still life using flowers or fruit.

Ask students to paint a still life without using black or brown, with minimal mixing of colours on the palette, and blocks of pure colour.

Theory

A bold new art movement was launched on the world in 1874 when 55 artists held the first independent group showing of art. These included Cezanne, Pissarro, Renoir, Degas, Monet and Manet, the style became known as Impressionism. Their work unleashed a storm of controversy in the stuffy French art world of the time. The impact of these brash young artists resonated across the world.

Choose one artist from the list above.

Choose one of their works that show an ‘impressionistic’ approach to colour.

Compare and contrast one of the following Nora Heysen works: Corn Cobs 1938, Freesias 1985, and Peaches 1989, to the work selected.

Discuss why you think Impressionism was first exposed to the world in 1874, but Nora Heysen didn’t paint Corn Cobs until 1938.

Discuss geographical and cultural isolation.

Level 6, National Profiles, The Arts

This suggested activity relates to Level 6 of the National Profiles, The Arts.

A student

  • Makes visual art works using knowledge and understanding of art styles from different cultures
  • Makes and designs art works that use key elements and appropriate skills, techniques and processes for the style and mediums chosen to work with
  • Analyses and responds to a range of visual art works using appropriate language and terminology both orally and in writing
  • Identifies the styles and features of visual arts from different social and cultural groups and reflects knowledge gained in visual arts activities
  • Identifies changes over time in the use of and application of materials and techniques and traditions of employment and career paths in art, craft and design