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Title

Self-portrait Janus-faced

2004-2005

Artist

John Olsen

Australia, England, Spain, Portugal

21 Jan 1928 – 11 Apr 2023

Artist profile

Alternate image of Self-portrait Janus-faced by John Olsen

  • Details

    Other Titles
    Self portrait, Janus faced
    Self portrait Janus faced
    Self portrait: Janus faced
    Date
    2004-2005
    Media category
    Painting
    Materials used
    oil on canvas
    Dimensions
    182.0 x 200.0 cm stretcher; 185.0 x 203.0 x 5.5 cm frame
    Signature & date

    Signed and dated l.r. corner, white oil "John Olsen/ '04".
    Signed and dated upper c. verso, black ink "John/ Olsen '04".

    Credit
    Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program by Louise Olsen and Tim Olsen 2024
    Location
    Not on display
    Accession number
    8.2024
    Copyright
    © Estate of John Olsen/Copyright Agency

    Reproduction requests

    Artist information
    John Olsen

    Artist profile

    Works in the collection

    134

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  • About

    John Olsen remains the oldest artist to win the Archibald Prize for portraiture to date, with this complex and enigmatic work, painted in his 77th year. In it, he alludes to both the impact the Australian landscape has borne on his work, as well as the passage of time as he approached his eighties. The work references the ancient Roman god of beginnings, transitions and ending. Responding to his win, Olsen said: ‘Janus had the ability to look backwards and forwards and when you get to my age you have a hell of a lot to think about’. Contemplative and full of raw intensity, the tracery of lines that emblematically map out the artist’s life journey – traversing his six-decade-long career – appear fragile, as if fading into oblivion.

    Olsen’s association with the Archibald goes back to 1952, when he joined a group of art students at the Gallery protesting William Dargie’s seventh Archibald win (for a portrait of BHP chairman Essington Lewis). Holding a placard that read ‘Archibald decisions death to art!’, Olsen gave three cheers for Picasso, and left. The protest led to a term limit for Gallery trustees. Years later, Olsen himself became a Gallery trustee and, by default, an Archibald judge. In yet another Archibald controversy, Olsen had been the favourite to win the 1989 prize for his work ‘Dónde voy? Self-portraits in moments of doubt’. Instead, the award went to Bryan Westwood for his portrait of art critic and artist Elwyn Lynn.

  • Exhibition history

    Shown in 3 exhibitions

  • Bibliography

    Referenced in 21 publications

    • Steven Alderton, John Olsen: Goya's dog, Darlinghurst, 2021, 34 (colour illus.), 35, 36.

    • Darleen Bungey, John Olsen: an artist's life, Pymble, 2014, 152-153, 402-403, 439-440.

    • Jeni Cooper (Editor in Chief), Sunday telegraph, 'NSW Art Gallery, The Domain', pg. 129, Sydney, 01 May 2005, 129.

    • Daniel Dasey, Sun-Herald, 'And the winner is ... 'obscure, grotesque, deformed, awful'', pg. 3, Sydney, 01 May 2005, 3 (illus.). Image of gallerygoers with Archibald winning portrait.

    • David Fagen (Editor), Courier Mail, 'Not your typical Archibald', pg. 1, Queensland, 30 Apr 2005, 1 (illus.).

    • Elizabeth Fortescue, Daily Telegraph, 'Frame and fortune: Olsen wins Archibald', pg. 14, Sydney, 30 Apr 2005, 14 (illus.). Image of artist with winning Archibald Prize portrait.

    • Sasha Grishin, The Canberra times, 'Head-turning hit pick', pg. 108, Ainslie, 03 May 2005, 108 (illus.).

    • Rosalie Higson, The Australian, 'Portraiture give pollies the brush', pg. 18, Sydney, 22 Apr 2005, 18 (illus.).

    • David Hurlston and Deborah Edwards (Editors), John Olsen: the You Beaut Country, 'Archibald Prize', pg. 18, Melbourne, 2016, 18, 19 (colour illus.), 34, 188, 208. titled 'Self portrait: Janus faced'; dated 2005

    • Jo Litson and Jennifer Blunden, Archibald Prize 2005, Sydney, 2005, colour illus..

    • Ben Martin, The West Australian, 'Olsen self-portrait wins Archibald', pg. 15, Perth, 30 Apr 2005, 15 (illus.). Image of artist with winning Archibald Prize portrait.

    • John McDonald, The Sydney Morning Herald, 'Portrait of the prize', pg. 28, Sydney, 30 Apr 2005-01 May 2005, Spectrum 28 (illus.).

    • John McDonald, The Sydney Morning Herald, 'Retro style: Olsen wins the Archibald with Janus on side' by Clare Morgan and 'Work shows his introspective best', pg. 31, Sydney, 30 Apr 2005-01 May 2005, 31 (illus.). Image of artist with winning Archibald Prize portrait.

    • Patrick McDonald, The advertiser, 'Winner - that's two ways of looking at it', pg. 27, Adelaide, 30 Apr 2005, 27 (illus.). Image of artist with winning Archibald Prize portrait.

    • Ken McGregor and Jenny Zimmer, John Olsen: journeys into the 'you beaut country', Port Melbourne, 2016, front flyleaf (colour illus., detail), 280-281 (colour illus.), 340. Work titled 'Self Portrait, Janus Faced'; dated 2004-05.

    • Jenna Price, The Canberra times, 'The winner is ... grand ol man of paintbrushes', pg. 5, Ainslie, 30 Apr 2005, 5 (illus.). Image of artist with winning Archibald Prize portrait.

    • Peter Ross and Jo Litson, Let's face it: the history of the Archibald Prize, '2000 and beyond', pg. 119-155, Sydney, 2017, 128, 129 (colour image), 178 (colour image).

    • Peter Ross, Let's face it: the history of the Archibald Prize, '1980s and beyond', pg. 86-129, Sydney, 2005, 128, 129 (colour illus.), 152 (colour illus.).

    • Rosemary Sorensen, Courier Mail, 'Archibald winner is one you have to see to believe', pg. 9, Queensland, 30 Apr 2005, 9 (illus.). Image of artist with winning Archibald Prize portrait.

    • Natalie Wilson, Archie 100: A century of the Archibald Prize, 'John Olsen - Self-portrait Janus-faced', pg. 194-195, Domain, 2021, 194, 195 (colour illus.).

    • Editor Unknown, Illawarra mercury, 'Archibald jeers turn to cheers for critic', pg. 1, New South Wales, 30 Apr 2005, 1 (illus.). Image of artist with winning Archibald Prize portrait.

Other works by John Olsen

See all 134 works