Corkwood tree on fringe of mulga, Central Australia c.1955-68

Walter Ebatarinja took up painting in the early 1940s following Albert Namatjira’s success. He became Namatjira’s first pupil as his family were the primary owners of the area around Hermannsburg, while Namatjira’s primary country was closer to Mount Zeil. Under Albert’s tutelage he improved quickly and had a ready market for his paintings. He soon inspired his family to paint and taught his wife, Cordula, who was famed as the ‘female Namatjira’ and was the first Arrernte woman to establish herself as an artist. Their sons, Joshua and Desmond, also became artists of note within the Hermannsburg School.