Yosl Bergner is one of Australia's most important twentieth-century artists. Born in Vienna and raised in Warsaw, he arrived in Melbourne in 1937 and studied at the National Gallery School, becoming associated with the influential Heide circle of Sidney Nolan, Albert Tucker and John Perceval. Alongside fellow social realists Noel Counihan and Vic O'Connor, Bergner forged a distinctive artistic vision that combined modernist experimentation with a profound interest in the human condition.

In 'Shells', Bergner turns his attention to their fractured edges, hollow interiors and clustered arrangement to create a composition that feels both carefully observed and quietly expressive.

The work demonstrates Bergner's gift for finding character in unexpected subjects. Rather than treating the shells as specimens or decorative motifs, he uses them as vehicles for mood and contemplation. The rich interplay of earthy reds, deep greens and chalky whites animates the surface, while fluid brushwork lends the forms an immediacy and vitality.

Executed in oil on paper, 'Shells' reveals Bergner's ability to transform humble subject matter into something memorable and affecting. It is a fine example of the artist's distinctive approach to still life, where ordinary forms become charged with atmosphere, emotion and meaning.

Represented in major public collections throughout Australia and internationally, Bergner remains one of the defining figures of Australian modernism. For collectors, Shells offers an engaging and characterful example of an artist whose work continues to resonate for its humanity, originality and enduring visual appeal.

Yosl BERGNER (1920 - 2017)
'Shells'
oil on paper
Image Size: 30 x 21 cm
Dimensions: 59 x 46 x 4 cm
Signed: Signed lower right
Comes with Letter of Provenance
Condition: Very Good: Describes a work of art's image as excellent, but may show some small signs of surrounding wear to the frame. 
(c) Yosl Bergner / Copyright Agency