Charles Blackman is one of the most beloved Australian artists. His works are pensive meditations on human condition couched in the visually disarming vocabulary of a dream-like state. Many of his works, especially those from the ‘Schoolgirls’ and ‘Alice’ series, have entered the Australian vernacular and are considered to be among the most iconic images of Australian art. His works have been a subject of curated survey exhibitions and scholarly monographs, while his importance to the Australian cultural landscape has been recognised by representative holding of his works in all national and state galleries, and significant regional and tertiary collections.

‘Three Butterflies’ relates directly to ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’, and, more precisely to ‘Alice's Book of Butterflies’ series. It became a fertile ground for Charles Blackman's imagination and spawned a number of celebrated paintings, drawings, and limited edition prints. Spend a minute examining designs on butterfly wings, and you would discover haunting eyes, faces of Alice, and mysterious worlds hidden within. This exquisite original etching, produced by the artist with the Crown Street Press, is a valuable addition to budding collectors and connoisseurs of Charles Blackman's works alike. The wizardry of line and the delicacy of vary-coloured tints demonstrate the artist’s proficiency of the print medium. 

Charles BLACKMAN (1928 - 2018)
'Three Butterflies' 1998
etching on paper
Edition of 70
Image Size: 30 x 45 cm
Signed: signed Blackman in margin AP 7/8
Comes with Letter of Provenance
Hard ground, soft ground and aquatint etching printed on 100% cotton French paper 300 grams

Condition: As New: The work of art is in the same immaculate condition as when it was created. This could be the description for a work of art that may have been in storage for years, never sold on the market but may still be some years old.

(c) Charles Blackman / Copyright Agency