This is a sortable list of Australian art critics who wrote for newspapers in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, a period in which such periodicals carried the majority of current, contemporaneous art criticism, before most such papers ceased art reviews in the 21st century.
Hamilton writes to distinguish this genre:
...criticism that appears in newspapers is written for a general audience, and the real substance of newspaper art criticism can best be summed up as providing an antidote for the 'vernacular glance'. This term, coined by art historian Brian O'Doherty in 1974, refers to the modern phenomenon of viewing an exhibition casually, with eyes darting indiscriminately from object to object in an ineffectual effort to take in the entire exhibition at once. The work of the critic is effectively to map an exhibition for an audience, and thereby transform the vernacular glance into an informed glance that is capable of discerning either meaning or emptiness in the work on show.
Barker and Green, noting the number of art critics writing for newspapers in the 1970s, consider that 'this writing was essentially ephemeral, based on the assessment of the wide spectrum of ... exclusively local, art exhibitions. It was essentially a form of reportage.
In 2012 Osborne noticed a general devaluing and disparagement of the newspaper critic and warned that:
... the progressively weakened position of newspaper art criticism and the threat of it disappearing altogether from mass market newspapers ... could have far-reaching repercussions ... a nodal rupture in the network of relationships between the art world and the wider public. The complex ecology of the art world needs this link with the wider public. It needs a healthy balance between critical writing in art journals and newspapers.
Name | Life | Newspaper or magazine | Dates | Gender |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bruce Adams | 1950– | The Australian | 1972–74 | M |
Bruce Adams | 1950– | The Sunday Telegraph (Sydney) | 1972–74 | M |
Christopher Allen | 1953– | Australian Financial Review | 2005–2008 | M |
Mary Cecil Allen | 1893–1962 | The Sun News-Pictorial | 1925 | F |
Christopher Allen | 1953– | The Australian | 2008> | M |
Christopher Allen | 1953– | The Sydney Morning Herald | 1987–1991 | M |
(Julian) Howard Ashton | 1877–1964 | The Argus | 1910–11 | M |
(Julian) Howard Ashton | 1877–1964 | Sydney Sun | c.1912–c.1936 | M |
Giles Auty | 1934–2020 | The Australian | 1995–2001 | M |
Harold John Baily | 1927– | Sunday Mail (S.A.) | 1963–64 | M |
George Bell | 1878–1966 | The Sun News-Pictorial | 1923–50 | M |
Peter Richard Bellew | 1912–1986 | The Sydney Morning Herald | 1939–42 | M |
George Courtney Benson | The West Australian | 1931>? | M | |
Nancy Borlase | 1914– | The Sydney Morning Herald | 1973–81 | F |
Nancy Borlase | 1914– | The Bulletin | 1972–73 | F |
Stephanie Britton | The News (S.A.) | 1971–77 | F | |
Stephanie Britton | Sunday Mail (S.A.) | 1980 | F | |
David Bromfield | 1947–2024 | The West Australian | late 80s–1990s | M |
Donald Brook | 1927–2018 | Canberra Times | c.1964–65 | M |
Donald Brook | 1927–2018 | The Sydney Morning Herald | 1968–1973? | M |
Basil Burdett | 1897–1942 | Brisbane Daily Mail | 1919–21 | M |
Basil Burdett | 1897–1942 | Herald (Melbourne) | 1936 | M |
Carolyn Burke | 1940–1989 | Various international, incl. The New York Times | 1990> | F |
Charles William Bush | 1919–1989 | The Australian | 1966 | M |
Jean Campbell | 1901–1984 | The Advertiser | 1952–1974 | F |
Jean Campbell | 1901–1984 | The Courier-Mail | 1952–1974? | F |
Francis Thomas Dean (Tom)Carrington | 1843–1918 | The Argus | >1918 | M |
Francis Thomas Dean (Tom)Carrington | 1843–1918 | The Australasian | 1889 | M |
Gary Catalano | 1947–2002 | The Age | 1985–1990 | M |
Harold Pierce Cazneaux | 1878–1953 | Sydney Mail | ?? | M |
Harold Pierce Cazneaux | 1878–1953 | The Lone Hand | ?? | M |
Dora Cecil Chapman | 1911–1995 | The Advertiser | 1958–69 | F |
Alexander Colquhoun | 1862–1941 | Herald (Melbourne) | 1914–1922 | M |
Alexander Colquhoun | 1862–1941 | The Age | 1926–1941 | M |
Arthur Vollens Cook | 1909–1967 | The Age | 1946–57 | M |
William Edward James Cook | 1904–1960 | Daily Telegraph | 1952–1959 | M |
Charles Gordon (Professor) Cooper | ? | The Courier-Mail | c.1940s | M |
Sue Cramer | The Age | F | ||
Elizabeth Cross | 1943– | The Sydney Morning Herald | ?? | F |
Elizabeth Cross | 1943– | The Age | ?? | F |
Geoffrey de Groen | 1938– | Canberra Times | 1973–77 | M |
Geoffrey de Groen | 1938– | National Times | 1973–77 | M |
Sidney Dickinson | 1851–1919 | Australasian Critic | 1889–91 | M |
David Dolan | 1949–2011 | The Advertiser | 1977–80 | M |
David Dolan | 1949–2011 | Sunday Mail (S.A.) | 1974–77 | M |
Geoffrey Dutton | 1922–1998 | The News (S.A.) | 1958–62 | M |
Mary Eagle | 1944 | The Age | 1977–1980 | F |
Ruth Faerber | 1922 | Australian Jewish Times | 1970s | F |
Beatrice Eileen Faust | 1939–2019 | The Age | 1970s | F |
Beatrice Eileen Faust | 1939–2019 | National Times | 1970s | F |
Paul Fitzgerald | 1922–2017 | The Argus | c.1940 | M |
Ivor Pengelly Francis | 1906–1993 | The News (S.A.) | 1944–1955 | M |
Ivor Pengelly Francis | 1906–1993 | Sunday Mail (S.A.) | 1964–74 | M |
Ivor Pengelly Francis | 1906–1993 | The Advertiser | 1974–76 | M |
Freda Freiberg | 1933–2024 | The Age | 1990s | F |
Andrew Frost | Guardian Australia | Current | M | |
Benjamin Genocchio | 1969– | The Australian | 1998–2002 | M |
(Robert) Esmond George | 1888–1959 | Sunday Mail (S.A.) | 1946–c.1966 | M |
James Timothy Gleeson | 1915–2008 | Sun-Herald | 1962–74 | M |
James Timothy Gleeson | 1915–2008 | Sydney Sun | 1949–74 | M |
Craig Alan Gough | 1938– | Sunday Times (WA) | 1972–73 | M |
Sasha Grishin | 1950– | Canberra Times | 1977–2023 | M |
Paul Haefliger | 1914–1982 | The Sydney Morning Herald | 1941–1957 | M |
Charles ('C.G.') Hamilton | 1874–1967 | West Australian | c.1907–1920s | M |
William Hannon | 1932–2020 | The Bulletin | 1960–65 | M |
David Hansen | 1958–2024 | The Age | 1990s | M |
Royston Harpur | 1938–2023 | Sydney Observer | 1960 | M |
Royston Harpur | 1938–2023 | The Australian | 1971 | M |
Henry Bromilow Harrison | 1878–1948 | The Argus | 1912–1943 | M |
Henry Bromilow Harrison | 1878–1948 | The Australian | ?? | M |
Christopher Heathcote | The Age | 1990s | M | |
Edward Bonaventura Heffernan | 1912 | Geelong Advertiser | 1966–74 | M |
John George Henshaw | 1929–2006 | The Australian | 1969–70 | M |
Harold Brocklebank Herbert | 1891–1945 | The Sun News-Pictorial | c1936> | M |
Harold Brocklebank Herbert | 1891–1945 | The Argus | c1936> | M |
Harold Brocklebank Herbert | 1891–1945 | The Australasian | 1927–1934... | M |
Harold Brocklebank Herbert | 1891–1945 | The Australasian | c.1932 | M |
Memory Holloway | 1946– | The Melbourne Times | 1977–78 | F |
Memory Holloway | 1946– | The Australian | 1978–81 | F |
Memory Holloway | 1946– | The Age | 1982–86 | F |
Robert Hughes | 1938–2012 | The Age | 1963–c.1970 | M |
Robert Hughes | 1938–2012 | Sydney Observer | 1958–59 | M |
Robert Hughes | 1938–2012 | Nation Review | 1959–1963 | M |
Robert Hughes | 1938–2012 | Sunday Mirror | 1963 | M |
Pamela Irving | 1960– | Geelong Advertiser | c.1980s | F |
Michael Hutak | The Bulletin | 1999–2007 | M | |
Michael Hutak | The Sydney Morning Herald | >1997 | M | |
Patrick Hutchings | 1929– | The Bulletin | 1961... | M |
Lou Klepac | 1936– | The News (S.A.) | 1967–70 | M |
Gertrude Langer | 1908–1984 | The Courier-Mail | 1953–1984 | F |
G. Ross Lansell | ? | Nation Review | 1966–67 | M |
G. Ross Lansell | ? | Daily Telegraph | 1967–78 | M |
Adrian Lawlor | 1889–1969 | The Bulletin | 1921–23 | M |
Percy Leason | 1889–1959 | Table Talk | 1929–1933... | M |
Malcolm (Mal) John Sewart Leckie | 1952 | Goldcoast City Bulletin | 1978 | M |
Raymond Lindsay | 1903–1960 | Daily Telegraph | 1940> | M |
Lionel Arthur Lindsay | 1874–1961 | The Bulletin | 1890s–1900s | M |
Lionel Arthur Lindsay | 1874–1961 | The Lone Hand | 1907–21 | M |
Lionel Arthur Lindsay | 1874–1961 | Herald (Melbourne) | 1935 | M |
Norman Lindsay | 1879–1969 | The Lone Hand | Occasional c.1907–21 | M |
Marie Therese Loureiro | ?–1907 | The Age | late 1800s | F |
John Samuel Loxton | 1903–1971 | The Argus | 1947–48 | M |
Elwyn Lynn | 1917–1997 | Nation Review | 1969 | M |
Elwyn Lynn | 1917–1997 | Sunday Mirror | 1963 | M |
Elwyn Lynn | 1917–1997 | The Australian | M | |
Elwyn Lynn | 1917–1997 | The Bulletin | 1966–1973 | M |
James Stuart (Jimmy) MacDonald | 1878–1952 | Herald (Melbourne) | 1923... | M |
James Stuart (Jimmy) MacDonald | 1878–1952 | The Age | 1943–47 | M |
Norman Macgeorge | 1872–1952 | Herald (Melbourne) | Late 1930s | M |
Marguerite Henriette Mahood | 1901–1989 | Radio and Listener In | Mid-1920s | F |
Jeffrey Makin | 1943 | The Sun News-Pictorial | 1972–87, 1997– | M |
Terence Maloon | 1950– | The Sydney Morning Herald | 1982–1987 | M |
John Baxter Mather | 1853–1940 | The Advertiser | 1889–1904 | M |
Patrick McCaughey | 1942– | The Age | 1966–69 1971–74 | M |
Alan McLeod McCulloch | 1907–1992 | The Argus | 1944–1947 | M |
Alan McLeod McCulloch | 1907–1992 | Herald (Melbourne) | 1951–1981 | M |
Susan McCulloch | 1949– | The Age | 1980s | F |
Susan McCulloch | 1949– | The Sun News-Pictorial | 1980s | F |
Susan McCulloch | 1949– | The Australian | 1994–2004 | F |
Susan McCulloch | 1949– | The Bulletin | 1980s | F |
John McDonald | 1961 | The Sydney Morning Herald | 1987–2017 ? | M |
Sandra McGrath | ?? | The Australian | 1972 | F |
Sandra McGrath | ?? | The Bulletin | occasional | F |
Colin McInnes | 1914–1976 | London Observer | 1948–50 | M |
Arthur McIntyre | 1945–2003 | The Australian | 1977–78 | M |
Arthur McIntyre | 1945–2003 | The Age | 1980s | M |
Alan Lester McIntyre | 1913–2002 | Examiner | 1960s? | M |
Alan Lester McIntyre | 1913–2002 | The Bulletin | pre-WW2 | M |
Alan Lester McIntyre | 1913–2002 | Smiths Weekly | pre-WW2 | M |
Thomas Firmin McKinnon | 1878–1953 | The Courier-Mail | 1940s–1950s | M |
Matthew James McNally | 1874–1943 | Daily Telegraph | occasional | M |
Matthew James McNally | 1874–1943 | The News (South Australia) | occasional | M |
Matthew James McNally | 1874–1943 | The Mail (South Australia) | occasional | M |
Ian North | The News (South Australia) | 1971–72 1974 | M | |
Joanna Mendelssohn | 1949– | The Bulletin | 1988> | F |
Hilary (nee Hunter) Merrifield | West Australian | 1960s | F | |
Ronald Grenville Millar | 1927 | The Australian | 1965–70 | M |
Ronald Grenville Millar | 1927 | Herald (Melbourne) | 1965 1981–93 | M |
William George Moore | 1868–1937 | The Courier-Mail | c.1919> | M |
William George Moore | 1868–1937 | Daily Telegraph | c.1919> | M |
William George Moore | 1868–1937 | Herald (Melbourne) | 1904> | M |
Robert Nelson | 1957– | The Age | 1984–1990s | M |
Greg Neville | 1951– | The Age | 1990–1993 | M |
Gino Nibbi | 1896–1969 | Herald (Melbourne) | occasional | M |
Clifton Thomas Almont Peir | 1905–1985 | The Sunday Mirror | 1961–62 | M |
Tony Perry | ? | The Age | 1978–1981 | M |
Ernest Sidney Philpot | 1906–1985 | Sunday Times (WA) | 1961–65 | M |
William Edwin 'WEP' Pidgeon | 1909–1981 | Daily Telegraph | 1974–1979 | M |
Margaret Rose Preston | 1875–1963 | Art in Australia | 1924–1940 | F |
Elizabeth Riddell | 1910–1998 | The Australian | 1960s | F |
Robert Rooney | 1937–2017 | The Age | 1980 – July 1982 | M |
Robert Rooney | 1937–2017 | The Australian | 1982–99 | M |
Christine Alexandra Ross (Sanders) | 1944 | Newcastle Morning Herald | 1971– | M |
Brian Seidel | 1928–2019 | The News (S.A.) | 1963–1966 | M |
David Michael Shannon | 1927–1993 | The Australian | 1973–75 | M |
Noel Sheridan | Sunday Mail (S.A.) | 1977–80 | M | |
Arnold Joseph Victor Shore | 1897–1963 | The Argus | 1949–1957 | M |
Arnold Joseph Victor Shore | 1897–1963 | The Age | 1957–1963 | M |
Mervyn Skipper | 1886–1959 | The Bulletin | 1930–31 / 1956–59 | M |
Mervyn Skipper | 1886–1959 | The Lone Hand | M | |
Jeffrey (Frank Jeffrey Edson) Smart | 1921– | Daily Telegraph | 1952–54 | M |
Sebastian Smee | 1972– | The Australian | c.2004–2008 | M |
Bernard Smith | 1916–2011 | The Age | 1963–1966 | M |
Ernest Walter Smith | 1928 | Sunday Mail (S.A.) | 1963 | M |
James Smith | 1820–1910 | The Age | 1854 | M |
James Smith | 1820–1910 | The Argus | 1860s | M |
William Bertram (Bert) Stevens | 1872–1922 | The Bulletin | 1909–10 | M |
William Bertram (Bert) Stevens | 1872–1922 | The Lone Hand | 1912–18 | M |
Arthur Streeton | 1867–1943 | The Argus | 1867–1943 | M |
Agnes Theodora (Dora) Sweetapple | 1899–1987 | The Sydney Morning Herald | 1950s–? | F |
Daniel Rhys Thomas | 1931 | Sunday Telegraph | 1962–66 1968–69 | M |
Daniel Rhys Thomas | 1931 | The Sydney Morning Herald | 1970–75 | M |
Daniel Rhys Thomas | 1931 | The Bulletin | 1976–77 | M |
Laurence Nicholas Barrett (Laurie) Thomas | 1915–1974 | Herald (Melbourne) | 1949–50 | M |
Laurence Nicholas Barrett (Laurie) Thomas | 1915–1974 | The Australian | 1968–73 | M |
Gerald Marr Thompson | 1856–1938 | Daily Telegraph | c.1883–86 | M |
Wallace Keogh Thornton | 1915–1991 | The Sydney Morning Herald | 1957–67 | M |
Evelyn Mary Tildesley | 1882–1976 | Australian Women's Weekly | 1923–35 | F |
Peter Timms | 1948 | The Age | 1990s | M |
Peter Timms | 1948 | The Australian | 1990s | M |
Stanley Clive Perry Turnbull | 1906–1975 | Herald (Melbourne) | 1943–48 | M |
Francesco Cesare Luigi Stefano Vanzetti | 1878–1967 | West Australian | c.1929...c.1952? | M |
Hayward Wilfred Veal | 1913–1968 | Daily News (Sydney) | 1937–c.1951? | M |
Wendy Walker | 1946– | The Australian | 2006–2016 | F |
Wendy Walker | 1946– | The Advertiser | 1999–2006 | F |
Peter Ward | The Australian | 1976–2002 | M | |
Alan Warren | 1919–1991 | The Sun News-Pictorial | 1951–72 | M |
Elizabeth Webb | The Courier-Mail | 1940s–1950s | F | |
James Wieneke | 1906–1981 | Brisbane Telegraph | 1949–50 | M |
Leslie Andrew Wilkie | 1879–1935 | The Age | briefly | M |
Anne-Marie Willis | Nation Review | c.1977 | F | |
Rex Thomas Percy Reginald Wood | 1908–1970 | ? | ? | M |
Elizabeth Young | The Advertiser | 1952–74 | F | |
William Blamire Young | 1862–1935 | Herald (Melbourne) | 1929–34 | M |
References
- Bruce, Candice; University of Sydney. Department of English (1997), Art and Australia Felix : art criticism, taste and nostalgia in mid-nineteenth century Victoria, retrieved 28 November 2024
- McAuliffe, Chris (1986), Art criticism in Australia 1970-1984, retrieved 28 November 2024
- Forde, Rosemary (2009), Sympton or cure? : indendent art magazines in Melbourne 1988–2006 and the crisis of criticism, University of Melbourne, retrieved 28 November 2024
- ^ Hamilton, Judy (2013). "Influencing the Modern in Brisbane: Gertrude Langer and the Role of Newspaper Art Criticism". Queensland Review (20): 206. doi:10.1017/qre.2013.21 – via Cambridge Journals.
- O’Doherty, Brian (1973). "Rauschenberg and the vernacular glance". Art in America. 61 (5): 82–87.
- Green, Charles; Barker, Heather (June 2011). "No place like home: Australian art history and contemporary art at the start of the 1970s". Journal of Art Historiography (3) – via ResearchGate.
- Osborne, Margot (June 2012). "Who would be an art critic?". Art Monthly Australia (250): 76–78.
- ^ Genocchio, Benjamin (2002), Genocchio, Benjamin (ed.), The Art of Persuasion : Australian art criticism 1950–2001, Craftsman House Fine Art Publishing, ISBN 978-1-877004-11-7
- Freiberg, Freda (7 May 1997). "Koons takes the cake for art ads". The Age. p. C7.
- Holloway, Memory (15 June 1978). "With a little bit of angst". The Australian.
- Holloway, Memory (28 July 1982). "Art : Olsen pays tribute to his companions". The Age. p. 14.
- ^ Hughes, Robert (26 January 1963). "Dog eats dog". Nation Review: 19.
- ^ Westbrook, Eric (1 September 1965), "Criticism without malice", Walkabout, Rex Nan Kivell Collection, 31 (9), Melbourne: Australian National Travel Association, Australian National Publicity Association: 39–40, ISSN 0043-0064, retrieved 28 November 2024 – via Trove
- "Loureiro, Marie Therese (?–1907)". Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- Makin, Jeffrey (2011). Critical moments : essays and reviews on art in Australia. Melbourne: Macmillan. ISBN 978-1-921394-19-5.
- McCaughey, Patrick (September–October 1967). "The art critic". Quadrant: 74–79.
- Modern Visions of the City of Perth. City of Perth. 2009. ISBN 978-0-646-51228-0.
- Smith, Bernard (1988). The critic as advocate: selected essays 1948-88. Melbourne: Oxford University Press (published 1989). ISBN 978-0-19-553029-2.
- Cunneen, Chris. "Agnes Theodora (Dora) (1899–1987)". People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
Further reading
- Anderson, Peter (2001), "A question of critical spin : The state of art criticism in Australia", Eyeline (46): 54–55, ISSN 0818-8734
- Chanin, Eileen (2006), Art Criticism in Australia 1866–1973, College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales, retrieved 28 November 2024
- Haese, Richard (1988). Rebels and precursors : the revolutionary years of Australian art. Penguin. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
- James, Rodney Bevan (2023). Letters to a critic : Alan McCulloch's world of art. Miegunyah Press. ISBN 978-0-522-87987-2.
- Kerr, Joan (1992). The Dictionary of Australian Artists : painters, sketchers, photographers and engravers to 1870. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-553290-6.
- Marsh, Anne (2021). Doing Feminism : Women's Art and Feminist Criticism in Australia. Melbourne: Miegunyah Press, an imprint of Melbourne University Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-0-522-87759-5.
- McCulloch, Alan; McCulloch, Susan; McCulloch Childs, Emily (2006). The New McCulloch's Encyclopedia of Australian Art (4th ed.). Fitzroy: AUS Art Editions; Miegunyah Press. p. ix. ISBN 0-522-85317-X. OCLC 80568976.
- Osborne, Margot (2011), Progressives and provincialism : the role of art criticism in advocacy of modern art in Adelaide from 1940 to 1980, University of Adelaide. Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, retrieved 28 November 2024
External links
- "Michael Snape – 'Art Criticism: The Silenced Witness' ", 20 May 2023, australiangalleries.com.au