Australian Aboriginal Art - Lot 291

Lot n° 291
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Estimation :
600 - 900 EUR
Result without fees
Result : 310EUR
Australian Aboriginal Art - Lot 291
Australian Aboriginal Art Traditional fishing scene. Natural pigments on eucalyptus bark. 54 x 38 cm. Provenance: Groote Eylandt, Australia. Circa 1960/1970. Anonymous author. The highly graphic composition of this bark, with its sober motifs standing out against a dark background, is characteristic of Groote Eylandt's Aboriginal art. The colors used, the nature of the pigments and a representation combining figuration and abstraction are also representative of the bark paintings of this island located east of Arnhem Land, in northern Australia. Here, the artist depicts the marine animals characteristic of northern Australia: dugong, hammerhead shark, turtles, tropical fish.... The scene takes place at sea in a canoe, while a group of people watch from the shore. One fisherman, standing in the middle of the boat with a spear, attacks a dugong, while the other, seated at the stern, fishes for a shark. The criss-cross patterns evoke both ocean currents and the tumult of the waves, as well as the wealth of vegetation to be found on land. The juxtaposition of dots and crosshatching on the bodies of animals and humans demonstrates the perfect harmony, even mimicry, between living beings and their environment. An astonishing serpentine shape runs through the work, suggesting the presence of a spirit, perhaps guaranteeing fruitful fishing? The work is beautifully crafted and in a good state of preservation. There is some wear to the pigments in places, which is quite common in works from this period. Expert: Stéphane Jacob-Langevin
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