Perhaps not as well known around the world as he is in his homeland, Norman Lindsey is undoubtedly regarded as one of Austraila’s greatest artists, producing huge quantities of works in different media, including drawings,etchings, watercolor and sculpture. He was also a writer that penned 13 novels including two for children and one of poetry. He was a workhorse for his art and his passion drove him to create. Those who knew Lindsey say a typical work day for him started before breakfast where he would produce a painting. Before noon, he was back in the studio working on etchings before moving into his garden to work on his concrete and bronze sculptures where he would stay until dinner time. His evenings would be consumed with working on whatever novel was fresh in his mind at the time. His creative expression was not bounded by any single medium and he even dabbled in creating scale models of sailing ships. And to round it all out, he boxed. And, by all accounts, he boxed well.
Norman Lindsay, by Max Dupain 1936 - Public Domain
Like any great artist throughout the years, Lindsey’s art was at times controversial. Lindsey sculpted, painted and created etchings of full bodied nudes that, at the time, were considered by many, pornography. In fact, his daughter Rose, in 1940 during WWII, made an effort to ferry some of his art-work to safety for fear of it being ruined. Unfortunately , the pieces were discovered, judged against the sentiment of the time, and destroyed. The novels that Lindsey wrote were also filled with political satire and a frankness that often put him in hot water. But he was never discouraged or deterred and if any piece of work was destroyed or censored, he simply created another with the same zeal and determination.
Thinking of Norman Lindsey, his passion for art and his prolific career brings to mind Montblanc, an organization that has been producing its own works of art for over a decade. The artisans at Montblanc have pushed their pen lines into designs that are nothing short of art and that at times resemble the full bodied nudes that Lindsey was so enamored with. In fact, if Lindsey were alive today I have no doubt that he would be equally enamored with the Montblanc Boheme Ligne Fountain Pen. The curvy shape of the Ligne is accentuated by the waist-like seam where the cap hugs the pen before extending down into the narrowing, yet full bodied base. The cap color is a matte, pale gold, hinting at the bronze medium that made Lindesy so famous in his craft. The remainder of the pens brown-black precious resin body is ringed with plated gold to provide a modest flair and topped off with a synthetic cream-coloured citrine gemstone. A true work of art by any standards.
Whatever Montblanc pen most embodies the spirit of Norman Lindsey (and I’d love to hear your thoughts) it’s no doubt that he is an artist capable of inspiring us to create without inhibition, without fear and without expectations.
