Studio portrait, Chelsea

Norah Simpson is credited with playing an important role in the introduction of post-impressionism to Australia , although she is an unfamiliar figure in Australia – she moved permanently to Europe in 1915 and subsequently ceased painting. On a prior visit to London in 1912, she had met members of the Camden Town Group – a group of post-impressionist artists – and saw first-hand in Paris works by Cézanne , Matisse , van Gogh and Picasso . On her return to Australia in 1913, she brought reproductions and books dealing with post-impressionist and cubist work to her art classes with Italian artist–teacher Antonio Dattilo-Rubbo, where they had a powerful effect on Simpson’s fellow students Roland Wakelin , Grace Cossington Smith and Roy de Maistre – particularly influencing their use of colour.