John Olsen

(born 1928)

Monet's Kitchen, 2002

Footnotes

PROVENANCE
Private collection, Sydney, commissioned directly from the artist

Monet's Kitchen, 2002 is a joyful representation of Olsen's three great loves: art, food and travel. In the 1960s his travels took him Spain, France and Portugal where he developed a deep appreciation for the exciting cuisine of these countries which was unlike anything he had experienced before and admired the passion it inspired in people and its ability to bring people together. Following this eye-opening trip, he developed his own culinary skills, becoming a passionate and accomplished cook and revisiting this subject time and again in his art with a series of works entitled 'Love in the Kitchen'.

Olsen returned to France several times and in a 1987-88 notebook from a trip to Spain, makes mention of a sojourn in France where he visited Monet's garden. The French artist's home and use of colour in his own works were undoubtedly an inspiration for Olsen: 'As one of this country's great colourists, Olsen's use of colour reflects both a sense of place and states of mind'.1 Indeed, the vibrant ochres, yellows and blues in this celebratory work invoke the warmth of French summertime whilst also being quintessentially Australian. The artist has inserted himself as the protagonist of this dynamic scene unfolding at the bottom of the canvas where one can imagine a joyful Olsen truly in his element, surrounded with pots and pans and foods of all colours excited to share the fruits of his labours with family and friends.

1. David Hurlston and Deborah Edwards (eds.), John Olsen: The You Beaut Country, the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, p. 58