In the rare ‘Owl + Pussycat', Charles Blackman draws two friends: an owl; and cat. They are aboard a boat in a verdant landscape, an intrepid and unlikely pair. There is something both whimsical and reticent about the scene. Like a fairy-tales protagonists in the story's aftermath, this work asks what happens either side of happily ever after?

Fluent in the language of emotion and symbolism, the animals that occupy Blackman are never mere creatures. They are symbols for luck, determination, loneliness, solitude and intelligence. His fantasy realm is a place where the viewer is refracted by their own imagination.

Blackman stands among Australia's most beloved and collectable artists. With a career as distinct as it is diverse, his work is informed by a sense of wonder and emotional acuity. ‘Owl + Pussycat’ will enliven collections of modern art, Blackman and animal art. Come set sail.
 

Charles BLACKMAN (1928 - 2018)
'Owl + Pussycat'
Etching on paper
Edition: Test Proof
Image Size: 15 x 20 cm
Dimensions: 24 x 33 cm 
Signed: Signed, titled and editioned below image.
Comes with Letter of Provenance
Embossed with Port Jackson Press Australia seal bottom right. 

Condition: Very Good: Describes a work of art’s image Excellent, but may show some small signs of surrounding wear. There are no tears to paper margin or disruption to paint surface.
 
© Charles Blackman / Copyright Agency 2023