Revered Australian artist Charles Blackman, held a lifelong adoration for storytelling. In this exquisite etching - of which an edition is represented at the National Gallery of Australia - he takes on Jack and the Beanstalk, in which a poverty-stricken farm boy plants magic beans to reach a giant’s castle.

In ‘Jack’s Beanstalk’, Blackman halts the story at a precipice of wonder. Represented by a single hand, Jack gingerly clasps a sprout, that in comparison to the beanstalk, is as dainty as a dandelion. Through Blackman’s eyes, the mythical plant as awe-inducing, as it is curious. Caught between Jack’s past and future, this scene observes all the hope and danger entwined in this sublime vine.

Whether Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland or Jack and the Beanstalk, Blackman possessed a unique ability to reimagine our favourite stories anew. Like all fairy-tales, Jack’s adventure has evolved to resonant with different audiences and under Blackman, it sprouts into a museum-quality feat of artistic prowess.

How fee-fi-fo-fun.

 
Charles BLACKMAN (1928 - 2018)
'Jack's Beanstalk' 1977
etching on paper
Edition of 30
Image Size: 20 x 15 cm
Dimensions: 39 x 33 cm
Signed: signed Charles Blackman, titled and editioned in margin
Comes with Letter of Provenance
Etching and aquatint, printed in black ink from one plate. An impression of this edition is represented at the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra. Accession no.: 79.889.
Availability: in stock
Condition: Very Good: Describes a work of art’s image As New, but may show some small signs of surrounding wear. There are no tears to paper margin or disruption to paint surface. Image is in Fine condition.
 
© Charles Blackman / Copyright Agency 2022