Jon Molvig : the tree of man paintings / Bruce Heiser

"Jon Molvig remains one of the great enigmas of Australian art. Known for works of savage expressionism, he switched styles and themes with a wilfulness that would alienate many of his admirers. The Tree of Man series was the last major undertaking of the artist's career, made while he was already feeling his mortality. The paintings proved deeply controversial, possessed of a simple, persistent iconography that felt profound but deeply puzzling. Fifty years later, Bruce Heiser takes another look at these mysterious pictures, analysing Molvig's symbolism, his sources of inspiration, and the way they were received at the time. Do they represent a falling-away of the artist's powers or a final triumph? - John McDonald, art critic, Sydney Morning Herald, film critic, Australian Financial Review." --Back cover.