Ray Crooke, a longtime resident of Cairns in far north Queensland, would often travel to neighbouring Melanesian and Fijian Islands to paint. In Tahitian Children, the artist depicts the profiles of two young children, posed for a portrait. The painting is masterful in its depiction of light and contrast - through the moody undergrowth of the islands tropical flora comes bright luminescent hues of sea, leaves, and fabric.

Often compared to Paul Gauguin, Crooke is among Australia’s most collectable artists. He is represented in all state galleries and in 1969, he won the Archibald’s Prize for his portrait of the novelist George Johnston. It is his images of island life however, that are his most iconic – quiet moments dappled with gravitas. For collectors of Australian modern art, ‘Tahitian Children is a scintillating find.

Ray CROOKE (1922 - 2015)
'Tahitian Children' 1973
oil and acrylic on canvas and board
Image Size: 75 x 100 cm
Dimensions: 93 x 119 x 6 cm
Signed: Signed 'R Crooke' lower left hand corner.
Comes with Letter of Provenance
Condition: Very Good.

(c) Ray Crooke / Copyright Agency