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Prints & Multiples A View from Above: Roofscapes in Printmaking — Roofscapes and man-made infrastructures are commonly seen in artist’s studies, from the rural outback to the rooftops
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of the busy city. Here, we take a look at three Australian
Auction
printmakers who have embraced this setting.
Wed 6 April, 6pm MELBOURNE
Lesbia Thorpe – Terraced Houses, Royal Parade 1956 TOP: LESBIA THORPE (1919-2009)
Thorpe’s prints cover many subjects, however she often
Terraced Houses, Royal Parade 1956 linocut 2/10 Sold for $2,125
returns to landscapes and building facades. Terraced Houses, Royal Parade was completed upon her return to Melbourne after travelling in London. Drawing inspiration from the
LEFT: ALAN SUMNER (1911-1994)
Grey Roofs, Prahran 1944-1946 screenprint, edition of 40 Sold for $1,375
London exteriors, Thorpe was attracted to these iconic terrace houses seen across Royal Parade, many of them still standing.
BELOW: LISETTE KOHLHAGEN
Experimenting with the balance of light and dark, she has used
(1890-1969) Melbourne Rooftops c.1938 linocut Sold for $600
the darker blocks in this linocut to enhance the fronts of the terrace houses, the trees, and the figures. Alan Sumner – Grey Roofs, Prahran 1944 - 46
Lisette Kohlhagen – Melbourne Rooftops c. 1938
Throughout Alan Sumner’s practice, he remained dedicated
Born in South Australia like many other influential female
to the subject matter of landscapes with the incorporation of
artists, Kohlhagen was encouraged by fellow artist and close
housing structures. The view pictured in Grey Roofs, Prahran
friend Thea Proctor to broaden her focus to printmaking.
could be seen through the drawing room window of Sumner’s
Using a number of different mediums, her subject matter
studio on Chapel Street. Originally executed in pastel, Sumner
featured flora and fauna, and extended to city scenes. The
took great care to keep the colours used in the screen-print
artist produced a number of linocut prints during her time in
true to the original.
Melbourne in the late 1930s, all focused on the Melbourne cityscape. Melbourne Rooftops was created during this period, and she has used bold blocks of black ink to enhance the detail and shadowing of the familiar scene. HANNAH RYAN / Art Specialist
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