Amberley, North Canterbury 1937

Rita Angus created 'Amberley, North Canterbury' using watercolour. During the mid-20th century, Angus, a woman artist in a largely male-dominated field, sought to create distinctly New Zealand art. By focusing on landscapes, like this view of Amberley, she engaged with ideas of national identity while subverting traditional landscape painting through her modern, simplified style. The watercolor shows Amberley's vast plains, with layered hills under a muted sky. This is not an idealized vision, but a direct, almost spiritual connection to the land. Angus once said: "I paint to find the bare truth." The painting uses muted colors, creating a sense of quiet stillness. Angus's vision invites us to consider the relationship between identity, place, and artistic expression, challenging us to find our own truths in the landscapes we inhabit.