Approaching Storm with Bushfire Haze 1913
Charcoal & Graphite on Paper
31x40cm
Signed Lower Right, Dated 1913
Prov: Work purchased from Hans Heysen 1965 Hahndorf.
Private Collection Adelaide.
$8,000-12,000
In early 1912, devastating bushfires swept through the Adelaide Hills, creating extraordinary atmospheric conditions that inspired one of Sir Hans Heysen’s most compelling groups of works. Living at Hahndorf, Heysen witnessed the fires firsthand, observing the dense smoke, approaching storm clouds and local farmers’ desperate efforts to move their livestock to safety. The experience left a lasting impression, prompting a series of drawings and paintings exploring the fires’ dramatic effects upon the landscape.
Among these works was the celebrated oil painting Approaching Storm with Bushfire Haze, 1912, now held by the Art Gallery of South Australia. Executed rapidly in a single studio session, it was conceived as a study for a much larger composition. Heysen continued developing the subject throughout 1913, producing further charcoal and watercolour studies that explored the interplay of light, smoke and storm clouds. A substantial charcoal composition dated 1913, also held by the Art Gallery of South Australia, demonstrates his continued refinement of the subject.
In correspondence with the Art Gallery of South Australia in September 1944, Heysen recalled the extraordinary scene he had witnessed near Hahndorf, describing the original oil as an impression of a dramatic moment that had remained vividly in his memory. He confirmed that the painting had been intended for a larger canvas, an ambitious project that was ultimately never realised.
The present charcoal, dated 1913, belongs to this important period of artistic exploration. Its atmospheric treatment of the eucalyptus, with branches emerging from the surrounding haze, demonstrates Heysen’s command of charcoal and sensitivity to the changing conditions of the Australian landscape. Together, these related works provide a fascinating record of his creative process and sustained engagement with an event that profoundly influenced his interpretation of the Adelaide Hills.
