A rare and highly collectible limited-edition lithograph by Sir Sidney Nolan, depicting the Sydney Harbour Bridge through the artist’s unmistakably gestural and expressive visual language. This composition belongs to Nolan’s celebrated late-career explorations of Australian landmarks and architectural forms, where familiar subjects were reinterpreted through abstraction, atmosphere, and psychologically charged mark-making.
The work is generally referred to as Sydney Harbour Bridge or Harbour Bridge (Commemorative Blue), with related versions and edition variants appearing through Australian and international auction records.
Unlike conventional depictions of the bridge that emphasise engineering precision, Nolan reduces the structure to a loose arching framework rendered in sweeping painterly strokes and translucent overlays. The image dissolves between representation and abstraction, giving the bridge an almost spectral presence suspended within the harbour atmosphere. The restrained palette of blue-grey and sepia further reinforces the dreamlike quality characteristic of Nolan’s later print works.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge occupied a significant place within Australian visual culture throughout Nolan’s career. As one of the defining figures of Australian modernism and a central member of the Heide Circle, Nolan consistently explored themes of national identity, mythology, landscape, and memory. His fascination with iconic Australian forms extended beyond the Ned Kelly series into depictions of the outback, Burke and Wills expeditions, Gallipoli, and monumental urban landmarks such as the Harbour Bridge itself.
Produced using the traditional lithographic process, the work demonstrates the medium’s capacity for rich tonal layering and fluid linework. The painterly handling is particularly notable, with the print retaining the immediacy and spontaneity more commonly associated with Nolan’s enamel paintings and works on paper. Signed and numbered within the edition 41/96, the lithograph holds both decorative and institutional significance within the broader context of twentieth-century Australian printmaking.
Details
Sir Sidney Nolan lithograph
Commonly catalogued as Sydney Harbour Bridge / Harbour Bridge (Commemorative Blue)
Limited numbered edition 41/96
Pencil Signed
Traditional colour lithograph
Depicting Sydney Harbour Bridge
Framed presentation
Late 20th century
106cm x 82cm
An important and visually atmospheric example of Nolan’s late graphic practice, uniting one of Australia’s most iconic architectural landmarks with the lyrical abstraction and emotional immediacy that defined his career.
A rare and highly collectible limited-edition lithograph by Sir Sidney Nolan, depicting the Sydney Harbour Bridge through the artist’s unmistakably gestural and expressive visual language. This composition belongs to Nolan’s celebrated late-career explorations of Australian landmarks and architectural forms, where familiar subjects were reinterpreted through abstraction, atmosphere, and psychologically charged mark-making.
The work is generally referred to as Sydney Harbour Bridge or Harbour Bridge (Commemorative Blue), with related versions and edition variants appearing through Australian and international auction records.
Unlike conventional depictions of the bridge that emphasise engineering precision, Nolan reduces the structure to a loose arching framework rendered in sweeping painterly strokes and translucent overlays. The image dissolves between representation and abstraction, giving the bridge an almost spectral presence suspended within the harbour atmosphere. The restrained palette of blue-grey and sepia further reinforces the dreamlike quality characteristic of Nolan’s later print works.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge occupied a significant place within Australian visual culture throughout Nolan’s career. As one of the defining figures of Australian modernism and a central member of the Heide Circle, Nolan consistently explored themes of national identity, mythology, landscape, and memory. His fascination with iconic Australian forms extended beyond the Ned Kelly series into depictions of the outback, Burke and Wills expeditions, Gallipoli, and monumental urban landmarks such as the Harbour Bridge itself.
Produced using the traditional lithographic process, the work demonstrates the medium’s capacity for rich tonal layering and fluid linework. The painterly handling is particularly notable, with the print retaining the immediacy and spontaneity more commonly associated with Nolan’s enamel paintings and works on paper. Signed and numbered within the edition 41/96, the lithograph holds both decorative and institutional significance within the broader context of twentieth-century Australian printmaking.
Details
Sir Sidney Nolan lithograph
Commonly catalogued as Sydney Harbour Bridge / Harbour Bridge (Commemorative Blue)
Limited numbered edition 41/96
Pencil Signed
Traditional colour lithograph
Depicting Sydney Harbour Bridge
Framed presentation
Late 20th century
106cm x 82cm
An important and visually atmospheric example of Nolan’s late graphic practice, uniting one of Australia’s most iconic architectural landmarks with the lyrical abstraction and emotional immediacy that defined his career.
