Deborah Klein’s visual language is distinct. Through it, she explores feminism and women’s histories, shining light on those absent from history in often unexpected ways. In her ‘Pirate Jenny’ suite, Klein reimagines the somewhat unlikable character Jenny from Bertolt Brecht’s critique of capitalism, ‘The Threepenny Opera’. Rather than London’s underbelly, however, this Jenny roams Melbourne’s suburb of St Kilda, where Klein grew up.

There is something devilishly tongue in cheek about Pirate Jenny At The Theatre, which sees the return of Mack the Knife, the opera’s central character, to Klein’s series. Mack’s focus is entirely on Jenny, who is captivated by the performance. Mirroring the pair sitting in the front row, a clown looks up to the elegant women centre-stage. Klein notes that the woman is one of the many guises of Death throughout this series. A mask in the woman’s hands bears an uncanny resemblance to Jenny, foreboding the fates of those emphatically interested for shallow reasons.

For Klein, the Pirate Jenny series represents a cornerstone in her practice. Under the guidance of Euan Heng, these works encouraged a variety of narratives: personal, literary, socio-political and feminist. The first major step in a fruitful career, ‘Pirate Jenny With A Customer’ announced Klein as an enthralling new voice. A folio of series is represented at the National Library of Australia, Canberra.

Represented in other public collections including National Gallery of Victoria, Klein has won the Grand Prize, Silk Cut Award for Linocut Printmaking. In 2008 the survey show ‘Deborah Klein: Out of the Past 1995 - 2007’ toured to Castlemaine Art Gallery and Historical Museum, the Art Gallery of Ballarat, Warrnambool Art Gallery and Deakin University Art Gallery, Victoria. For collectors of prints, and contemporary and feminist art, this work is a thrilling find.

Deborah KLEIN (1951 - )
'Pirate Jenny At The Theatre' 1988
linocut on paper, printed on Nishi Nouchi paper
Edition of 25
Image Size: 62 x 46 cm
Dimensions: 74 x 54 cm
Signed: Editioned, titled, signed 'Deborah Klein' and dated in lower margin.
Comes with Letter of Provenance

Condition is Very Good: Describes a work of art's image as Excellent, but may show some small signs of surrounding wear to paper or frame. There are no tears to paper margin or disruption to the paint surface.

(C) The Artist or Assignee