J J Hilder
(Australia 23 Jul 1881–Apr 1916)
- Title
- Ploughing
- Year
- 1910
- Media category
- Watercolour
- Materials used
- watercolour on paper
- Dimensions
-
22.9 x 29.1cm sheet; 45.2 x 52.2 x 1.7cm frame
- Signature & date
- Signed and dated l.r. corner, grey watercolour "J.J.HILDER/ 1910".
- Credit
- Bequest of Dr and Mrs Sinclair Gillies 1952
- Accession number
- 8977
- Location
- Not on display
- Further information
"His power of selection never left him. He instinctively avoided the obvious and commonplace in nature and the simplest thing always appealed to him. A group of trees, a broken sliprail, an old stable, a man working in a clay pit. They sound commonplace, but seen through Hilder's eyes they are transformed into something beautiful. "
Sydney Ure Smith, 1916
With a sweeping perspective, Hilder accentuates the large cumulous cloud surging at centre - encouraging speculation on the untilled field beyond. The horses appear shrouded in a hot vapour as they pull the plough languidly across the land. Through Hilder's wet wash technique the pigment appears almost to meld with the fibres of the paper. Using mostly cool colours he miraculously creates a sweaty heat that hangs on this symbol of rural labour, the ploughman.
- Bibliography (6)
-
Barry Pearce (Australia) (Author), Parallel visions: works from the Australian collection, Domain, 2002, 75 (colour illus.), 144, 147.
Hendrik Kolenberg (Netherlands; Australia) (Author), Australian watercolours 1880s to 1990s, Sydney, 1995, 33 (colour illus.), 116. cat.no. 20
Hendrik Kolenberg (Netherlands; Australia) (Author), Twentieth century Australian watercolours from the collection, Sydney, 1989. cat.no. 30
Ursula Prunster (Australia) (Author), Edmund Capon (England; Australia, b.1940) (Author), J.J. Hilder and contemporaries, Sydney, 1981, (illus.). cat.no. 6
Captain Brett Hilder (Australia, b.1911, d.1981) (Author), Lloyd Rees (Australia, b.1895, d.1988) (Author), The heritage of J. J. Hilder, Sydney, 1966, 51 (colour illus.). plate no. XII, cat.no. 203
'The watercolours of J.J. Hilder' by Douglas Dundas., The Etruscan Sep 1959, Sep 1959, 21 (colour illus.).
- Exhibition history (11)
-
J.J. Hilder memorial exhibition (1916), Society of Artists, 14 Jul 1916 -.
J.J. Hilder and Contemporaries, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 29 Aug 1981–04 Oct 1981.
J.J. Hilder and Contemporaries, Tamworth City Gallery, 04 Apr 1982–24 Apr 1982.
J.J. Hilder and Contemporaries, Newcastle Region Art Gallery, 06 May 1982–30 May 1982.
J.J. Hilder and Contemporaries, Wollongong City Gallery, 02 Jun 1982–14 Jul 1982.
J.J. Hilder and Contemporaries, Albury Regional Gallery, 09 Sep 1982–26 Sep 1982.
Twentieth century Australian watercolours from the collection, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 05 Apr 1989–25 Jun 1989.
Australian watercolours 1880s to 1990s, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 18 Nov 1995–14 Jan 1996.
Australian watercolours 1880s to 1990s, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, 1996–1996.
Australian watercolours 1880s to 1990s, City of Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, 1996–1996.
Parallel Visions: Twenty-two artists from the Australian collection, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 22 Feb 2002–May 2003.
