Soul singer at Luna Park
(1942-1943)
- Artist/s name
- John PERCEVAL
- Medium
- oil on composition board
- Measurements
- (124.0 x 90.0 cm)
- Place/s of Execution
- Melbourne, Victoria
- Accession Number
- A10-1986
- Credit Line
- National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Presented through The Art Foundation of Victoria by Mr John Perceval, Founder Benefactor, 1986
© Courtesy of the artist's estate - Gallery Location
- Not on display
John Perceval’s experience with the war was limited. He enlisted voluntarily but only served for eight months due to a polio infection, which exempted him from active service. He remained a keen observer of Melbourne during the war years, painting intense and passionate works of the city and its people.
Soul Singer at Luna Park 1942 was inspired by the Jazz night club scene in Swanston Street, which was a haunt for service people on leave. Who can doubt that in this expressive interplay of dark and light the accordion player is singing the blues? Every brushstroke attests to the blues mixture of joy and sadness, the human condition.
