George Baldessin is still regarded as one of Australia’s preeminent artists. During his short but influential lifetime, he was considered on par with Brett Whiteley, with both artists eschewing the dominant mode of abstraction in favour of lyrical, figurative imagery. For Baldessin, etching represented a field for innovation, free from the physical and financial restraints of sculpture.

Baldessin’s Personage series emerged as one of his most recognisable motifs, embodying the tension, vulnerability, and theatricality that defined his practice. Figures appear flattened, distorted, or fragmented, often juxtaposed against architectural elements such as windows, or framed by books—symbols representing knowledge, enclosure, and the passage of time.

In Personage, Windows and Books, windows act as both a portal and threshold—separating interior and exterior worlds—while the recurring motif of books speaks to the weight of tradition and understanding. Baldessin’s personages are not portraits per se in the conventional sense but dramatic archetypes. Vulnerable and enclosed within the oval window, their veiled distortion heightens the psychological tension within the composition.

Personage, Windows and Books encapsulates the hallmarks of Baldessin’s practice—distortion, drama, and psychological depth—within one of his most sought-after series. Works from this series demonstrate his technical brilliance in printmaking and his ability to invest archetypal figures with enduring humanity. For collectors, they represent not only a key moment in Baldessin’s oeuvre but also an essential touchstone in the story of Australian modernism.

George BALDESSIN (1939 - 1978)
'Personage, Windows & Books' 1973
coloured etching and aquatint on paper
Image Size: 78 x 53 cm
Dimensions: 102 x 80 cm
Signed: Signed, titled dated, and editioned 'Ed. 25 'Personage, Windows & Books' George Baldessin 73' under image
Comes with Letter of Provenance

This work has been carefully conserved, including treatment to restore its optimal pH balance, ensuring it will remain in excellent condition for years to come.

Condition: Very good
(c) George Baldessin / Copyright Agency