The Spontaneous Gesture

Prints and Books of the Abstract Expressionist Era

Exhibition
6 Jun – 13 Sep 1987

Related

National Gallery Exhibition History

Model layout of exhibitions with hands adjusting the location of works of art

View the National Gallery's archive of past exhibitions.

Exhibition

Dance Hall Days
French posters from Chéret to Toulouse-Lautrec

Past Exhibition
A lithograph poster of a woman enjoying a glass of absinthe and the words absinthe vichet are in red text against a green banner.

27 Jun 1998 – 25 Oct 1998

Colour lithography posters from late 19th century Paris advertised and celebrated the popular dance halls and cafés-concerts.

Article

Francis Bacon’s Triptych

A set of three paintings with abstract human figures in hammocks.

Simeran Maxwell examines the National Gallery’s Francis Bacon painting ‘Triptych’ 1970, an early acquisition for the Gallery.

Read Time: 3 minutes
Photo Essay

Monet framed

A painting of boats in a gold frame

National Gallery Curator Simeran Maxwell offers insight into the framing you’ll find in Monet: Impression Sunrise

Read Time: 8 minutes
Feature

Life is one long decay, no?

A wax sculpture of a man missing a head

Jaklyn Babington takes an in-depth look at the practice of Urs Fischer and his candle sculpture Francesco.

Read Time: 12 minutes
Article

Painted by drunks!

Photograph of blue poles in gallery space

In 1973, Blue poles, one of the most outrageous paintings of the era, travelled to Australia on a tidal wave of rumours.

Read Time: 7 minutes
Feature

The reclamation of an image
An examination of Charles White's 'Young Woman'

Image from a contact sheet in the Kenneth Tyler Collection archive showing Charles White working at Gemini Limited

An examination of American artist Charles White's 'Young Woman'

Read Time: 21 minutes
Photo Essay

Curator's Top 6
Rauschenberg & Johns: significant others

Ahead of the opening of Rauschenberg & Johns: significant others, curator David Greenhalgh shares his highlights from the exhibition.

Read Time: 11 minutes
Feature

David Hockney prints

A figure dives into a pool with a splash!

The Kenneth Tyler collection team shares an excerpt from David Hockney prints: the National Gallery of Australia Collection by Dr Jane Kinsman.

Read Time: 13 minutes
Article

The Seven Sunflowers

Sunflowers in a vase against a blue background

Curator Sally Foster explores Vincent van Gogh’s obsession with sunflowers

Read Time: 8 minutes