Wystan Curnow


Wystan Curnow  1942
pencil, 325 x 265 mm
Wystan and Susan Curnow Collection


When Rita Angus stayed with friends Betty and Allen Curnow, she became fond of their young son Wystan. She made two drawings of him – the first in 1941 and the second the year after, when the first was damaged.

Betty Curnow recalled Rita working on the first portrait: ‘Rita spent the afternoon drawing Wystan – she sketched onto the paper without preliminary sketches and worked very fast.’


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All artworks are reproduced courtesy of the Estate of Rita Angus.