From the revered Girls and Flowers Portfolio, this work is quintessential Charles Blackman. It is evocative and mysterious – a vestige of feeling over exactness. ‘Quartette’ is a story told in four parts. The first panel sees three girls fold together; the second, reminiscent of ‘Prone Schoolgirl’, sees a girl lying face down on the ground; the third is of a flying ghost and the fourth, another girl bent over a flower. 

Fluent in the language of emotion, Blackman’s legacy lies in his ability to articulate dualities. His work is sweet yet sad, serving innocence undercut by threat. Despite its youthful subject matter, ‘Quartette’ is melancholic. It pricks themes of loss, youth, death and beauty. 

‘Quartette’ was printed by Michelle Perry at Marnling Press, Sydney on Velin Arches 250 gsm paper. It is hand-signed by Blackman himself. For collectors of the icon and important works on paper, this work is a thrilling find.

Charles BLACKMAN (1928 - 2018)
'Quartette, from Girls and Flowers Portfolio' 1989
screenprint on paper
Edition of 80
Image Size: 55 x 49 cm
Dimensions: 76 x 56 cm
Signed: Signed, titled, and numbered in pencil in margin below image
Comes with Letter of Provenance

Condition: Excellent

(c) Charles Blackman / Copyright Agency 2024