Steeplechase, 1956, watercolour, pen and ink
John Brack is a favourite Australian artist of mine. He was born in 1920 in Melbourne and died in 1999. In the 1950's and 60's he often drew and painted life around him, his family, the city and his friends.
The Racecourse series was done in 1956 and contains about twenty five drawings, watercolours and etchings. It documents a day in the life at the track.
It doesn't seem to be a happy, fun filled day at the racetrack though. The owners, trainers and book makers seem rather menacing. Everybody's faces are lined and serious.
They drawings all tell a story and a person could elaborate greatly to what is first seen. I love the sketchiness of the work.
When this series was exhibited in 1956 a good number sold which allowed Brack to afford to pay a model and did a number of figure paintings after this.
Weighing 1956, watercolour, pen and ink
The Falling jockey, 1956, watercolour, pen and ink
The Stipendiary Stewart's 1956
The Conference 1956, watercolour, pen and ink
Spectators, 1956 dry point
The Bookmaker, 1956, watercolour, pen and ink
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