11. Mrs Reardon at Glenrowan 1970 - 1971

Curator: This is Sir Sidney Nolan's "11. Mrs Reardon at Glenrowan," currently held in the Tate Collections. Editor: There's such a stark contrast between the vibrant, almost childlike rendering and the palpable sense of dread it evokes. Curator: Nolan often engaged with Australian history and mythology. This image likely references the siege at Glenrowan, a pivotal moment in the Ned Kelly saga. Editor: The composition, with its skewed perspectives and flattened space, almost seems to destabilize the narrative itself. Note how the police figure looms in the foreground, but Mrs. Reardon's figure commands the eye, pushing against that looming oppressive force. Curator: Indeed, Nolan’s work challenges the romanticized image of Kelly, presenting a more nuanced, socially conscious perspective on the events. Editor: The materiality itself, the layering of color and almost crude rendering, certainly reinforces the brutality of the scene, doesn’t it? Curator: Absolutely, and it reminds us that history is not simply a collection of facts, but a constructed narrative, open to interpretation. Editor: Precisely. It's fascinating to consider how Nolan uses the visual language to challenge established narratives.