Albert Namatjira: The Life and Work of an Australian Painter

In 1936 Albert Namatjira, an Aranda Aboriginal, had eight weeks' tuition in watercolour painting from artist Rex Battarbee, during one of the latter's painting expeditions to Central Australia. With this meagre knowledge of western art, Namatjira was able to make an extraordinary cultural transition from traditional Aboriginal artistic expression to master the techniques of western landscape painting. Within ten years he had become famous and his delicate watercolours were sold throughout Australia. When he made his first visit to the capital cities of Australia he was fêted as a true celebrity. But Namatjira paid a tragic price for his entry into the white world. Although lionised by the press and artlovers, he was rejected and victimised by other areas of society. Refused the right to buy property, to build his own home with his own earnings or to travel when and where he chose, he became sadly disillusioned. Belatedly, he became the first Aboriginal of his tribe to be granted full Australian citizenship. With this gift came tragedy. He was held responsible for supplying the alcohol that led to the murder of a young girl. He was brought to trial and sentenced. The once-proud artist died a broken man, but not before he had given us a substantial body of paintings that are a unique celebration of his country. This is the first major collection of Albert Namatjira's paintings to be published. These reproductions and the text by Nadine Amadio, Jonah Jones, Anne Blackwell and Daniel Thomas gives us the opportunity to revalue his work and understand something of the environment and circumstances that shaped his perception. We rejoice in the revival of interest in this great Australian painter. The book is introduced by Dr H. C. Coombs, a great champion of Aboriginal arts. --