The new house

The new house' by John Brack is a depiction of Australian culture during the Menzies era, where the home was viewed as the foundation of the Australian way of life. It portrays a conventional married couple - suburban homeowners - standing in front of their fireplace in a simply adorned interior. A reproduction of van Gogh's 'Langlois Bridge' (1888) hangs above the mantelpiece, while beneath it a small clock marks the time. The white apron worn by the woman, indicative of her domestic duties, suggests that lunch has just concluded.

'The new house' is strictly composed on a narrow vertical canvas with a precise arrangement of colour. It pervades a sense of flatness, embodied by Brack's smooth application of paint, emphasising the clean, sparse qualities of the room.