13 AM 1026/03
Rosalind Langford The Curlew 2003
Acrylic on Galacia linen 1250 x 850mm $3000
This painting is the artist’s interpretation of the story of the Curlew. Many people call the Curlew the night bird
from the artist’s mother’s county. The Curlew was known as the “death bird” for whenever you heard the call of
this bird at sunset or sunrise it was bringing you a message about a death in the family or of a close friend.
It was considered by the artist’s mother’s people to be a terrible thing if you killed a Curlew.

The artist has painted this painting to show the conflict of 2 cultures during the mission times.
The overseer lived in a house that was usually picketed.
The Aboriginal people lived in humpies along the river bank. They were required to attend church and do away
with their spiritual beliefs.
When ever the “Death Bird” would call it would send fear into the Aboriginal people and often the local preacher
would dispute the Aboriginal people’s fear as stupid, silly or savage beliefs and would bring out a Bible to impart
Christian teachings. This would often cause Aboriginal people emotional conflict.
However the story of the “Death Bird” continues to be told today by Aboriginal people to their children from the
artist’s mother’s home country.