Peer Gynt (from the Peer Gynt Suite)
Print on paper • Arthur Boyd (Australian, 1920–1999)
Style & Movement
Modern Australian Art / Expressionism
Medium & Technique
Color lithograph or screenprint, likely featuring a combination of planar color blocks and expressionistic brushwork translated into print form.
Creation Period
Circa 1970s
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 65 cm x 50 cm; Portrait orientation
Subject Description
The work depicts a scene from Henrik Ibsen’s play 'Peer Gynt,' specifically the 'Buckride' (Bukk rittet). It features a stylized, fluidly rendered figure clinging to the back of a reindeer, set against a background of dynamic, undulating yellow bands and deep blue fields. The composition uses intense, non-naturalistic color to evoke the surreal, hallucinatory nature of Peer's narrative.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good. The colors appear vibrant, though there is visible slight rippling of the paper at the edges suggestive of historical moisture or tension from mounting.
Estimated Market Value
$1,200 – $2,500 USD
Auction Estimate
$800 – $1,800 USD
Provenance History
Part of the 'Peer Gynt' series created during Boyd's residence in the UK. Likely acquired from a gallery specializing in Australian prints or through a dedicated fine art auction channel.
Art Historical Significance
Arthur Boyd is one of Australia's most significant 20th-century artists. His 'Peer Gynt' suite represents a key period where he explored literary themes through a lens of existential myth and human frailty. The series is celebrated for its poetic use of color and its ability to blend European myth with Boyd’s unique Australian sensitivity toward landscape and form.
Notable Features
Features the artist's signature (indicated by owner) in the lower margin. The work is characterized by the 'spatter' technique in the blue background which adds texture and celestial depth to the composition.
Condition Issues
Visible edge wear; slight paper distortion; potential light toning (yellowing) consistent with age if not kept under UV-protective glazing.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional mounting using acid-free materials; framing behind Museum Glass (UV protection); maintain in a stable environment with 50% humidity to prevent further paper rippling.
Collector Notes
Peer Gynt collection Signed