AustLit

'The relationship between artists and their sitters has long been a topic of fascination and enquiry – not least for artists themselves. The study of portraiture is often informed by investigations of this relationship as well as that with a third party: the viewer.' (Introduction)

'The narrator of Angela O’Keeffe’s first novel, Night Blue (2021), wants to tell the reader their “inner story”. A story of being made, exhibited and judged, it is narrated by Jackson Pollock’s abstract expressionist painting known as Number 11, 1952. Later named Blue Poles, the painting was purchased in 1973 by the National Gallery of Australia for $1.3 million. Because this sum was beyond the gallery director’s budget, it was controversially authorised by then prime minister Gough Whitlam.' (Introduction)