We acknowledge the Gadigal of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the Country on which the Art Gallery of NSW stands.

Title

Hospital theme - the sterilizer

1942

Artist

Eric Wilson

Australia

05 Jan 1911 – 23 Nov 1946

Artist profile

Alternate image of Hospital theme - the sterilizer by Eric Wilson
Alternate image of Hospital theme - the sterilizer by Eric Wilson
Alternate image of Hospital theme - the sterilizer by Eric Wilson
Alternate image of Hospital theme - the sterilizer by Eric Wilson
Alternate image of Hospital theme - the sterilizer by Eric Wilson
  • Details

    Date
    1942
    Media category
    Painting
    Materials used
    oil on hardboard
    Dimensions
    81.3 x 47.0 cm board; 95.0 x 59.8 x 6.7 cm frame :

    0 - Whole, 81 x 46 cm, SIGHT DIMENSION

    Signature & date

    Signed l.l. corner, red oil "Eric Wilson". Dated l.l. corner, pencil "42".

    Credit
    Purchased 1945
    Location
    Not on display
    Accession number
    7577
    Copyright

    Reproduction requests

    Artist information
    Eric Wilson

    Artist profile

    Works in the collection

    66

    Share
  • About

    At the time this painting was created, Eric Wilson was working as a ward attendant at Sydney's Lidcombe State Hospital. Drawing inspiration from his surroundings, the subject of this painting is an autoclave – a machine that heats liquids above boiling point to obtain sterilisation. Instead of portraying the machine from a single vantage point, Wilson has embraced cubist theories which attempted to convey three-dimensional objects from several angles at once.

    In his later career, Wilson championed cubism in both his teaching and exhibited works, such as 'Hospital theme – the sterilizer', which was shown at the fourth annual Contemporary Art Society exhibition in 1942.

  • Exhibition history

    Shown in 2 exhibitions

    • Eric Wilson, Newcastle Art Gallery, Newcastle, 29 Jul 1983–28 Aug 1983

      Eric Wilson, Banyule Gallery, , 16 Sep 1983–16 Oct 1983

      Eric Wilson, Queensland Art Gallery, South Brisbane, 04 Nov 1983–04 Dec 1983

    • Sydney Moderns, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 06 Jul 2013–07 Oct 2013

  • Bibliography

    Referenced in 5 publications

Other works by Eric Wilson

See all 66 works