Untitled (Hop Kilns, Motueka) 1941

Rita Angus created this watercolor painting of hop kilns in Motueka, New Zealand. Her landscapes are often interpreted through the lens of national identity and cultural belonging. Angus lived through a period of significant social change in New Zealand, including the world wars and the rise of modernism. As a woman artist, she navigated a male-dominated art world, often challenging traditional representations of femininity and landscape. Her personal life and spiritual beliefs were deeply intertwined with her art, and she sought to capture a sense of harmony and balance in her compositions. Hop kilns such as these are interesting subjects because they were built to dry hops, which were in turn a key ingredient for beer, a predominantly male product and consumer base. The surrounding landscape of hills and trees invites you to consider the relationship between industry, nature, and gender. The soft colors and simplified forms evoke a sense of tranquility and contemplation. Angus's painting offers a vision of New Zealand’s landscape that invites us to reflect on our own place within it.