Women near the running stream ready to collect water by Joan Sultan, 15x34cm FJ506JoS

Joan Sultan's artwork, "Women Near the Running Stream Ready to Collect Water," vividly portrays an essential aspect of desert life. The painting features sinuous lines representing the running stream and circles denoting waterholes, while U-shapes depict women. In Aboriginal art, U-shapes symbolize human presence, mimicking the shape left in the sand by a seated person from an aerial perspective.

This piece highlights the crucial knowledge of locating water for the survival of desert peoples.On the back of the canvas, Joan has handwritten the full title and included a description of the iconography, offering a personal and insightful touch to the artwork. This connection allows viewers to understand the deeper meaning behind the visual elements.