Yosl Bergner is one of Australia’s most important artists. Born in Austria and raised in Poland, he and his family immigrated to Australia in 1937 to escape anti-semitism. In Melbourne, Bergner attended the National Art School and befriended the Heide circle, who included Sidney Nolan, Albert Tucker and John Perceval. It was alongside Noel Coulihan and Vic O’Connor however, that Bergner made his indeminable mark. Self-described as a social humanist, Bergner and his fellow social realists forged a bracingly political vision.

In ‘Friends’, Bergner presents three downcast friends. Their eyes are hollowed out, indicative of an existential unease. Having experienced trauma first-hand as a Jew and soldier in the Second World War, Bergner was not interested in ‘pretty pictures’. Rather in works like this, he draws the human condition in all its complexities.

Bergner brought German Expressionism to Australia. His legacy persists in not only style, but the belief art can change the world. A lifelong member of the National Gallery of Victoria, a major retrospective of his work was held at Tel Aviv Museum in 2000. He is represented in numerous public collections in Australia and abroad, and is the recipient of the Israel Prize for painting and co-recipient of the Dizengoff Prize for painting. For collectors of socially conscious, Modern and expressionist art, Bergner is a must.
 

Yosl BERGNER (1920 - 2017)
'Friends 1942' 2002
hand-coloured screenprint on paper
Edition of 50
Image Size: 46 x 64 cm
Dimensions: 56 x 76 cm
Signed: Signed, dated, titled and numbered in pencil in margin below image: 1/50 Hand-coloured screen-print Friends 1942-2002 Yosl Bergner
Comes with Letter of Provenance
Availability: in stock
Condition: Very Good
© The Artist or Assignee