Almanac Art: ‘The purple noon’s transparent might’ – Arthur Streeton

 

The purple noon’s transparent might (1896)  – Arthur Streeton
NGV

 

What is it about a work of art that draws one’s eye in?

 

What attracts the mind and focuses attention upon the work as a whole or a part, creating thought provoking scenarios about the images, until ultimately, an admiration and appreciation of the concept viewed is derived? 

 

Whether it is a painting, a sculpture, a photograph, or any other creative work, it is that first instant or fleeting moment that is best remembered, and remains as a lasting impression. 

 

I’ve always been attracted to the creative arts, especially painting and drawing, and I was fortunate enough to be introduced to them at an early age and encouraged to actively participate in areas of preference at primary school – although I was not a very good practitioner, I was more appreciative of the artistic and conceptual merits of the art. I enjoyed looking at art.

 

I would like to tell you about my introduction to the painting, The purple noon’s transparent might by Arthur Streeton which is my favourite work of art.

 

At primary school my teacher for both grade five and six was a very good artist. His chalkboard depictions of historical events, nature study, or story related events were outstanding  creations of drawing and colour, and a great addition to aid our learning activities. 

 

While we were busy completing set exercises of maths or reading activities we watched entranced, in silence, and with delight as the white chalk outlines soon filled with colour to create exquisite images. With his back to the grade while working on his drawings, Mr McIntosh knew there would be no discipline problems – we were so mesmerised by the emerging images – no way  did we want Mr Mc to be distracted from his work as we sat in silence, in awe of the wonderful images generated and exploding from the blackboard. 

 

Besides our art works on display were displays of art prints of well known and famous artists as well. Art books were carefully arranged and displayed around the room and in bookcases, mainly accessed from Mr Mc’s own collection of books. Extreme care of their perusal was always requested by him which students wholehearted abided by – we knew how important art, and the books were to Mr Mc, we wanted to do the right thing by him at all times. 

 

We loved the storytelling emanating from these wonderful art resources and his descriptions of works of art on display in the room or those he held up to emphasise further. He would point out important highlights of the works explaining techniques, methods and the story presented in those images to the delight of his enthralled students.

 

Art on a Friday afternoon was eagerly anticipated each week as we pondered on the different possibilities of creative work Mr Mc  would introduce to the grade. Would it be Lino cuts, using Textas for the first time – a new fad at the time, or would we be lucky enough to be introduced to watercolour and oil painting. Whatever it was it was sure to be interesting.

 

I would chat to mum about my love of art and particularly about specific prints Mr Mc had introduced and shown the grade he would elaborate upon. 

 

The day Mr Mc held up a large print of The purple noon’s transparent might by Arthur Streeton was indeed a magical moment at that point of time for me. I was spellbound by what I saw. The blues of the river and the sky immediately jumped out at me, wanting to grab me by the throat and draw me into their mass of colour. Then, the recognition of space and how it was utilised by the artist to create the picture, and importantly, as one continued to focus on the painting, the differing scenarios depicted within the work found their way to me,  telling  me stories, many stories. Although I was unaware of the saying ‘a picture paints a thousand words’ at the time, it did not take me long to realise how apt that saying is and powerful in conveying a story without any words necessary. But it was the blues that jumped out at me, the colours was so vivid and brilliant particularly at the wide expanse of the river at the foot of the painting. The eye followed the changing blues up the river to the blue hills and to the sky helping to create the brilliance of the use of light in the work, its brightness and lightness.

 

Some weeks after my introduction to The purple noon’s transparent might I was pleasantly surprised by mum when she handed me a small parcel that had arrived in the mail. Parcels delivered by mail to our household were very rare occasions indeed so without any hesitation the wrapping paper was quickly disposed of  to expose a booklet and postcard sized art prints inside a cardboard box. Among the prints was The purple noon’s transparent might, I was ecstatic. The effort and time mum must have spent into organising their purchase from the art gallery was beyond my understanding of how such a thing was done. 

 

I could now examine my own print of  The purple noon’s transparent might in detail at my own leisure,  something I could not do in the classroom. As always, it was the various shades and tones of blue that jumped out at me in the first instance whenever I looked at the print, and even as a Grade 5 student I recognised – without knowing why, that artists employed certain devices, techniques and methods to create a narrative to draw you into their work. And once my eye was drawn in I began to recognise the story-telling possibilities of the many scenarios depicted in the painting. Was that smoke in the distance or a heat haze? Exposed sand banks to the middle of the river suggests summer, rainfall is down and so on. It must be a very hot day, cattle are in the river drinking. And from the creative work in front of me I began to create my own work – my stories I believed the painting was telling me whether it was the artist’s intention or not. You must look into a painting to get out whatever the artist was wishing to express via their creation.

 

Whenever I’m in Melbourne I endeavour to visit the NGV to view The purple noon’s transparent might. I never tire of it. The same things jump out at me but the more I look the more I see, and, the more I learn about this magnificent work of art.

 

 

Arthur Streeton 1930 by W.B. McInnes     Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art

 

More from Col Ritchie can be read Here

 

 

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