A bowl of roses 1924

Hans Heysen made this painting, titled 'A bowl of roses', using oil on canvas. Heysen was an extremely interesting character in the history of Australian art. He painted this still life in 1926, when he was one of the most successful and institutionally recognised artists in the country. In the 1920s, the art world in Australia was still very closely connected to that of Britain. Successful Australian artists often established themselves in London, and sent work back to Australia for sale. Heysen, however, decided to stay in Australia. He chose to paint quintessentially Australian scenes, such as landscapes of the outback. Still life paintings like this were bread-and-butter work for many artists, and this painting of roses could be seen as Heysen showing his mastery of a more conventional genre. To understand Heysen's position in Australian art history, we might consult exhibition catalogues from the period, newspaper reviews, and other archival material. This helps us understand the social and institutional context that gave his art meaning.