Title

The golden duck [by Murray Griffin].

Author

Bunbury, Alisa

Source

[Not applicable]

Publication date

1998

Type

About the work

Language

English

Country of context

Australia

Full text

The golden duck.

“No. 5 ‘The Golden Duck’ is completely satisfying with the soft feathery surfaces and the suggestion of the weight of this bird winging across the fine background.”
(Arthur Streeton, Argus, 28 Nov.1933, p. 9)

The golden duck is the only print in which Griffin has depicted a bird in full flight. This may have been as a result of the Museum of Victoria’s practice of displaying mounts of birds resting, as supporting a mount of a flying bird creates problems. The unusual angle, thin graded colours, simplified reeds and vertical monogram all demonstrate a strong Japanese influence. All located impressions were printed on a cover of the Picturesque Atlas of Australasia, one of the most important publications for wood engravings in the late 19th century. Originally printed in volumes, these covers may have become available when the volumes were bound together. Griffin may have come across this supply of paper through his commercial art work.

© Alisa Bunbury, 1998.