By the end of the 1970s, Charles Blackman OBE's (1928–2018) status as a premier Australian artist was well and truly cemented. Best known for his signature series of images, incorporating schoolgirls with flowers and Alice in Wonderland figures and motifs, he exhibited prolifically throughout his career. Judy Cassab AO CBE painted this portrait of her friend in 1979, two years after he was awarded an OBE. Captured at the height of his career, Blackman is depicted as a confident and successful artist, comfortable in his surroundings, and portrayed through the artist's signature expressionist style. Shortlisted for the 1979 Archibald Prize, the painting shows Blackman in his then eponymous beret, seated before a large, leaning painting of a reclining, draped nude. At this time, the artist was working on a 'nightmare' series, inspired by Henry Fuseli's 1781 influential work; one of these paintings – with a very similar composition to that shown in Cassab's portrait – had just been acquired by the Art Gallery of New South Wales in 1978. One of Australia's best-loved, most successful and prolific portrait painters, Cassab was an Archibald finalist 41 times. The Portrait Gallery currently holds sixteen portraits of notable Australians by Cassab, and four portraits of the artist – including one self-portrait.
Gift of Warwick Evans 2021. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
© Judy Cassab/Copyright Agency, 2023
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