From 1941, modernist Eric Thake began sending his friends hand-designed Christmas cards. By 1975, he moved from linocuts to offset lithographs, his eyesight beginning to fail. Sharply observed nonetheless, these cards still speak to Thake’s innerworld and perspective on life, with this particular work sent to his friend, revered writer and curator Ursula Hoff.

‘The eagle and the aeroplane’ is hand-signed and inscribed to Hoff. It humorously imagines an eagle, so often the object of our skyward gaze, marvelling at an unseen aeroplane. Just as a human may marvel at its swoop, this eagle ponders its big sibling above.

Represented across numerous public collections, including at the Art Gallery of South Australia, ‘The eagle and the aeroplane’ is an accessible entry into Thake’s practice. It speaks to his remarkable wit, Australian modernism and the friendship between an artist and scholar. With strikingly excellent provenance, it is a prize for collectors of modernist art.

Eric THAKE (1904 - 1982)
'The eagle and the aeroplane' 1978
offset lithograph on paper
Image Size: 23 x 24 cm
Dimensions: 23 x 24 cm image and overall sheet size, scored to fold
Signed: Signed and dated lower left: Eric Thake ’78; inscribed with dedication to Dr Hoff on reverse. Inscribed reverse sheet, ink To Ursula & Mother / with / Best Wishes for Xmas / & 1979 / Eric / letter written
Comes with Letter of Provenance

Impressions of this work are at the:
National Gallery of Victoria, accession number: 2006.22
Art Gallery of South Australia, accession number: 20172G/36

Condition: Excellent 

© The Artist or Assignee