Hermannsburg School
Encyclopedia
The Hermannsburg School is an art movement, or art style, which began at the Hermannsburg Mission in the 1930s. The most well known artist of the style is Albert Namatjira
. The movement is characterised by watercolours of western-style landscapes that depict the often striking colours of the Australian outback
.
, Hermannsburg was founded by Lutheran missionaries in 1877. The Western Arrernte
people have lived in this region for thousands of years. In 1941 Rex Battarbee founded the Aranda Art Group, which controlled the supply of materials and helped handle the business affairs of the emerging artists.
, of their Western Arrernte landscape, which European
settler
s named the Western Macdonnell Ranges
. Previously, Western Arrernte people had only used art in a ceremonial sense, as topographical
interpretations of their country and their particular Dreaming
s, painted using symbols.
Early works by Albert also conveyed this spiritual connection with the land. They shared an intimate knowledge of the land on which they had lived for thousands of years. The Ghost Gum features prominently in the works, a sacred and important part of Western Arrernte mythology. In the best works by Otto Pareroultja trees were painted as ancestral beings with body-like trunks & arm-like branches.
and John Gardner, in the 1930s. Other artists from the Hermannsburg school include Wenten Rubuntja
, Walter Ebatarinja, Otto Pareroultja, and his brothers Ruben and Edwin, not to mention Albert's sons, Enos, Oscar, Ewald, Gabriel, Maurice and Keith. Other members of the school include the Henoch and Herbert Raberaba brothers.
. The works produced by the movement were accessible to collectors who were more familiar with western-style landscapes. It was also a successful economic model for aboriginal communities. Today Hermannsburg is also well known for its potters, particularly its women.
Albert Namatjira
Albert Namatjira , born Elea Namatjira, was an Australian artist. He was a Western Arrernte man, an Indigenous Australian of the Western MacDonnell Ranges area...
. The movement is characterised by watercolours of western-style landscapes that depict the often striking colours of the Australian outback
Outback
The Outback is the vast, remote, arid area of Australia, term colloquially can refer to any lands outside the main urban areas. The term "the outback" is generally used to refer to locations that are comparatively more remote than those areas named "the bush".-Overview:The outback is home to a...
.
History
Located 125 km west of Alice Springs, in Central AustraliaCentral Australia
Central Australia/Alice Springs Region is one of the five regions in the Northern Territory. The term Central Australia is used to describe an area centred on Alice Springs in Australia. It is sometimes referred to as Centralia; likewise the people of the area are sometimes called Centralians...
, Hermannsburg was founded by Lutheran missionaries in 1877. The Western Arrernte
Western Arrernte
Western Arrernte refers to Arrernte people who traditionally live in Arrernte lands west of Alice Springs. It also refers to a dialect of the Arrernte language that is spoken in this area. Some people argue that Western Arrernte is an entirely different language and group of people to Central...
people have lived in this region for thousands of years. In 1941 Rex Battarbee founded the Aranda Art Group, which controlled the supply of materials and helped handle the business affairs of the emerging artists.
Style
The Hermannsburg painters' work is characterised by soft hues, usually water coloursWatercolor painting
Watercolor or watercolour , also aquarelle from French, is a painting method. A watercolor is the medium or the resulting artwork in which the paints are made of pigments suspended in a water-soluble vehicle...
, of their Western Arrernte landscape, which European
European ethnic groups
The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe....
settler
Settler
A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established permanent residence there, often to colonize the area. Settlers are generally people who take up residence on land and cultivate it, as opposed to nomads...
s named the Western Macdonnell Ranges
MacDonnell Ranges
The MacDonnell Ranges of the Northern Territory, are a long series of mountain ranges located in the centre of Australia , and consist of parallel ridges running to the east and west of Alice Springs...
. Previously, Western Arrernte people had only used art in a ceremonial sense, as topographical
Topography
Topography is the study of Earth's surface shape and features or those ofplanets, moons, and asteroids...
interpretations of their country and their particular Dreaming
Dreaming (spirituality)
The Dreaming is a common term within the animist creation narrative of indigenous Australians for a personal, or group, creation and for what may be understood as the "timeless time" of formative creation and perpetual creating....
s, painted using symbols.
Early works by Albert also conveyed this spiritual connection with the land. They shared an intimate knowledge of the land on which they had lived for thousands of years. The Ghost Gum features prominently in the works, a sacred and important part of Western Arrernte mythology. In the best works by Otto Pareroultja trees were painted as ancestral beings with body-like trunks & arm-like branches.
Members
Albert Namatjira began his distinctive style after seeing an exhibition by travelling artists to the mission, Rex BattarbeeRex Battarbee
Reginald Ernest Battarbee was an Australian artist notable for painting landscapes of Central Australia, and for teaching Aboriginal artist Albert Namatjira to paint.-Early career:...
and John Gardner, in the 1930s. Other artists from the Hermannsburg school include Wenten Rubuntja
Wenten Rubuntja
W. Rubuntja was an Australian artist and Aboriginal rights activist. He belonged to the Arrernte indigenous people of Central Australia. His works were painted in acrylic or watercolours and influenced by themes from Dreamtime myths. His paintings are to be found in Australia's Parliament House,...
, Walter Ebatarinja, Otto Pareroultja, and his brothers Ruben and Edwin, not to mention Albert's sons, Enos, Oscar, Ewald, Gabriel, Maurice and Keith. Other members of the school include the Henoch and Herbert Raberaba brothers.
Legacy
The Hermannsburg School represented a major change of direction for Australian aboriginal artAustralian Aboriginal art
Indigenous Australian art is art made by the Indigenous peoples of Australia and in collaborations between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australians . It includes works in a wide range of media including painting on leaves, wood carving, rock carving, sculpture, ceremonial clothing and sandpainting...
. The works produced by the movement were accessible to collectors who were more familiar with western-style landscapes. It was also a successful economic model for aboriginal communities. Today Hermannsburg is also well known for its potters, particularly its women.