John Bellany - A Life in Self-Portraiture

John Bellany was one of the most significant Northern European Expressionists of the modern era. As with all expressionists his art is highly subjective and autobiographical and his self-portraits range from carefully observed student studies to disguising himself in different roles within his epic pictorial narratives.This book concentrates on the role of self-portraiture in Bellany’s art to trace and present the complex development of his artistic and personal obsessions and shows how he portrayed himself through a variety of mediums, including his private sketch books and a wide range of printing techniques as well as drawings and paintings. It includes a foreword by Helen Bellany, the artist’s wife, plus an essay and interview from exhibition curators’ Bill Hare and Sandy Moffat. Moffat’s account charts his long-term friendship and collaboration with Bellany, from their time at art school up until the latter’s death.