early life and training norah cassan simpson, a trailblazer in the development of modernism in australia, was born on july 5, 1895, in sydney. she grew up in this vibrant city, which would later influence her artistic style. in 1911, simpson studied under dattilo rubbo at his rowe street school, marking the beginning of her artistic journey. catalyst for modernism in australia simpson's travels to london in 1912 and her subsequent return with reproductions of then-current french works significantly impacted her fellow art students. this exposure to modernist techniques inspired a new generati…