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Nora Heysen AM (b. 1911) is one of Australia's most accomplished portrait artists. Her self-portrait of 1934 was an early acquisition of the National Portrait Gallery, and can be seen hanging inside the Library space. The interior shot shows a painting from the artist's Ruth series, depicting a mighty farmgirl against the background of the Flinders Ranges. The portrait photographer Sage made these images of Heysen at the home in which she has lived for most of her life. Sage was born in Wales, and his first photographs were of Welsh miners and their families during the UK miners' strike of the late 1980s. He studied documentary photography with the Magnum photographer David Hurn, and has worked as a photojournalist for the Sydney Morning Herald.
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2001
Accession number: 2001.39
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Sage (5 portraits)
On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves: who we read, who we watch, who we listen to, who we cheer for, who we aspire to be, and who we'll never forget. The Companion is available to buy online and in the Portrait Gallery Store.
Australian artist, Nora Heysen, discusses her childhood and the development of her career.
Andrew Sayers asks whether a portrait can truly be the examination of a life.
Explore portraiture and come face to face with Australian identity, history, culture, creativity and diversity.