Joie de mort
1988
Medium
synthetic polymer paint on composition board
Measurements
91.7 × 122.0 cm
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Presented through The Art Foundation of Victoria by Mr Albert Tucker AO, Governor, 1995
© Albert & Barbara Tucker Foundation. Courtesy of Smith & Singer Fine Art
Gallery location
Not on display
Artwork Details
Place/s of Execution
St Kilda, Melbourne, Victoria
Inscription
inscribed in black paint l.r.: Tucker / '88
inscribed in chalk on reverse u.l.: "JOIE DE MORT". 1988 91cm X 1M.22cm. / ACRYLIC ON HARDBOARD
Accession Number
1995.396
Department
Australian Painting
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Vizard Foundation
Subjects (general)
Abstract Art Human Figures
Subjects (specific)
darkness light bulbs nudes (representations) women (female humans)
Movements
Angry Penguins
Physical description
Joie de mort is one of a group of paintings painted in the late 1980s in which the artist revisits the themes of his 1943 series 'Images of modern evil.' In this painting the figures of the 1940s have become more abstract, like joints of meat topped with a vicious leer. The figures seem to dance a dance macabre beneath an electric light bulb. They are not images of this world and suggest a more frightening other existence.