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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

The 1890s to the 1940s

Although the tough, weathered, hard-drinking bushmen of the kind mythologised by writers like Banjo Paterson and Henry Lawson are popularly associated with the character of late nineteenth century Australia, it was also a time when alternative ideas about identity began to come into play.

More information on The 1890s to the 1940s

Selected images

23 images
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Arthur Streeton
Arthur Streeton, c. 1890 H. Walter Barnett
Self portrait with gladioli
Self portrait with gladioli, 1922 George Lambert
William Dobell
William Dobell, 1942 Max Dupain OBE
J.C. Williamson
J.C. Williamson, c. 1913 John Longstaff
The Australian Commonwealth (Henry Stafford Northcote)
The Australian Commonwealth (Henry Stafford Northcote), 1904 Sir Leslie Ward, Vincent Brooks, Day & Son, Vanity Fair Magazine
New South Wales (Earl of Jersey Victor Albert George Child-Villiers)
New South Wales (Earl of Jersey Victor Albert George Child-Villiers), 1890 Sir Leslie Ward, Vincent Brooks, Day & Son, Vanity Fair Magazine
George Judah Cohen
George Judah Cohen, 1925 George Lambert
The Cape High Commissioner (Sir Henry Brougham Loch)
The Cape High Commissioner (Sir Henry Brougham Loch), 1894 Sir Leslie Ward, Vincent Brooks, Day & Son, Vanity Fair Magazine
Peace and War (Mr A. G. Hales)
Peace and War (Mr A. G. Hales), 1908 Sir Leslie Ward, Hentschel-Colourtype, Vanity Fair Magazine
Jack Lang
Jack Lang, c. 1930-1940 George Finey. © Estate of George Finey
Errol Flynn
Errol Flynn, 1938 (printed 2008) George Hurrell
Lord Casey
Lord Casey, 1938 Gordon Furlee Brown
Bob Croll of the AAA Vic.
Bob Croll of the AAA Vic., 1916 David Low. © Estate of David Low
Federal Statistician Knibbs
Federal Statistician Knibbs, 1919 David Low. © Estate of David Low
Bernard O'Dowd, Poet
Bernard O'Dowd, Poet, 1919 David Low. © Estate of David Low
John Monash
John Monash, 1919 James Quinn
John Richard Tindale
John Richard Tindale, 1841 Maurice Felton
Sir James Reading Fairfax
Sir James Reading Fairfax, 1898 Tom Roberts
Sir Hubert Wilkins
Sir Hubert Wilkins, 1933 Irving Browning
Victor Trumper
Victor Trumper, 1905 George Beldam, Sun Electric Engraving Company
Self portrait in plus fours
Self portrait in plus fours, c. 1939 (cast 2003) Lyndon Dadswell CMG. © Estate of Lyndon Dadswell
Field Marshal the Lord Birdwood
Field Marshal the Lord Birdwood, 1938 Barbara Tribe. © Estate of Barbara Tribe
Rayner Hoff
Rayner Hoff, 1924 Harold Cazneaux
23 images
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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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