By depicting the bare bones rather than the surface skin of the land, Fred Williams altered how many Australians envision their landscape. His interest was driven by contrast – after studying at the George Bell School in Melbourne, he moved to London where he drew music halls, fanfare and the zoo. Upon his return to Australia in 157, he was viscerally struck by the difference in environment. Light, scale and harsh beauty surrounded him.

Any survey of Australian art would not be complete without Williams. He was inspired by Matisse, Cezanne and the Cubists – uniting visions of the Australian landscape with the European canon. In the trajectory of Australian Modernism, he positioned himself as a “link between Nolan and Drysdale: Nolan the irrational, Drydale the formal.”

For collectors of important landscape and modern art, this work is a breathtaking find.

Fred WILLIAMS (1927 - 1982)
'Cottlesbridge Acacias I' 1979
Gouache on paper
Image Size: 27 x 27 cm
Framed Dimensions: 64 x 62 x 4 cm
Signed: Signed and dated lower centre 'Fred Williams'
Comes with Letter of Provenance

Condition: 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) Fred Williams / Copyright Agency