In 1957, while living in Paris, Sidney Nolan drew designs for a number of art magazines including L’OEil revue d’art, published in Lausanne from 1955. This work is one such configuration, picturing a limby owl overlain with the magazine’s title, ‘L’Oeil’, which is also the French work for “eye”.

The magazine was created by Rosamond Bernier and her second husband, George Bernier. Unlike most art magazines of the time, which were specialist, L’OEil published writing with broad appeal covering not only fine art, but other creative disciplines including decoration and design.

Nolan too took inspiration from all layers of culture, having designed covers for Australian magazines Art + Australia and The Angry Penguins. Whether an epic landscape or punchy graphic, Nolan possessed a commanding and distinctive visual voice. What is the epitome of eyes if not an owl’s glowing stare?

For collectors of important works on paper or those interested in the intersection between fine art and design, ‘L’Oeil’ is a page turner.

Sidney NOLAN (1917 - 1992)
'L'Oeil' 1957
Crayon on paper
Image Size: 30 x 25 cm
Dimensions: 43 x 38 x 2 cm
Signed: Initialled and dated within drawn image lower left: N 24/11/37
 
Comes with Letter of Provenance
 
Condition: Excellent
 
(c) Sidney Nolan / Copyright Agency