Acquired from the artist by Lance Bennett in 1966; 

The Thomas Vroom Collection; 

Bonhams Aboriginal Art, The Thomas Vroom Collection, Sydney, 2015, Lot 25;

Private collection, Sydney

Western Arnhem Land bark paintings are related to the ancient rock art friezes for which the area is renowned. This elegant painting of an emu by Djurrubiga features the X-ray technique in which detail of the animal’s internal organs is depicted, illustrating its anatomy and outlining the correct method of butchering it as prey. The traditional allocation to kin of particular areas of the butchered animal is also delineated. Finely hatched, rather than cross hatched patterns further connect this image to the style of the region’s celebrated rock art and early bark paintings