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An image of The curve of the bridge by Grace Cossington Smith
Alternate image of The curve of the bridge by Grace Cossington Smith Alternate image of The curve of the bridge by Grace Cossington Smith Alternate image of The curve of the bridge by Grace Cossington Smith
Alternate image of The curve of the bridge by Grace Cossington Smith Alternate image of The curve of the bridge by Grace Cossington Smith Alternate image of The curve of the bridge by Grace Cossington Smith

Grace Cossington Smith

(Australia 1892–20 Dec 1984)

Title
The curve of the bridge
Place of origin
Sydney → New South Wales → Australia
Year
1928-1929
Media category
Painting
Materials used
oil on cardboard
Dimensions

110.5 x 82.5cm board; 137.2 x 109.5 x 10.9cm frame

Signature & date
Signed l.l. corner, black ink "G.Cossington Smith". Not dated.
Credit
Purchased with funds provided by the Art Gallery Society of New South Wales and James Fairfax AO 1991
Accession number
1.1991
Copyright
© Estate of Grace Cossington Smith
Location
Not on display
Further information

Throughout its construction, which was completed in 1932, the Sydney Harbour Bridge inspired many artists to redefine their visions of the city and the harbour by incorporating this new industrial structure. This painting shows the massive frame-work in mid-construction, emerging from the shores of North Sydney. It reveals Grace Cossington Smith’s view of the bridge as a dynamic work-in-progress.

In a powerful translation of forms through colour and light, the painting radiates optimism and energy in a celebration of modern engineering and, more broadly, the modern age. The artist made many pencil studies onsite, which she inscribed with notes on colour, took back to her studio and transformed into an iconic expression of Sydney’s most enduring urban monument.

Bibliography (38)

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Deborah Hart (South Africa; United Kingdom; Australia, b.1959) (Editor), Grace Cossington Smith, Canberra, 2005, 39, 45, 130 (colour illus.), 131-133, 136, 140, 176.

Paula Dredge (Author), Margaret Sawicki (Australia) (Author), Steven Miller (Australia) (Author), Lindsay Parker (Australia, b.1939, d.2003) (Author), S.A. Parker Framing Works, Domain, 2004, 37 (illus.), 42 (colour illus.).

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Exhibition history (12)

An Exhibition of Paintings and drawings by Lionel T. Crawshaw, R.S.W., Mrs. Lionel Crawshaw and Grace Cossington Smith, Walker's Galleries, 22 Apr 1932–12 May 1932.

Art Treasures of Olympic Cities, Lausanne Olympic Museum, 22 Jun 1993–03 Oct 1993.

Great gifts, great patrons, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 17 Aug 1994–19 Oct 1994.

Australian icons: twenty artists from the collection, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 04 Aug 2000–03 Dec 2000.

Grace Cossington Smith: a retrospective exhibition (2005), National Gallery of Australia, 04 Mar 2005–13 Jun 2005.

Grace Cossington Smith: a retrospective exhibition (2005), Art Gallery of South Australia, 29 Jul 2005–09 Oct 2005.

Grace Cossington Smith: a retrospective exhibition (2005), Art Gallery of New South Wales, 29 Oct 2005–15 Jan 2006.

Grace Cossington Smith: a retrospective exhibition (2005), Queensland Art Gallery, 11 Feb 2006–30 Apr 2006.

Bridging Sydney, Museum of Sydney, 16 Dec 2006–29 Apr 2007.

Australian modern masterpieces from the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, 05 Oct 2011–27 Nov 2011.

Australian modern masterpieces from the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Newcastle Region Art Gallery, 10 Dec 2011–04 Mar 2012.

Australian Art Quest, State Theatre.