Wainui, Akaroa 1943

Rita Angus’ watercolor, Wainui, Akaroa, gives us a very particular view of the landscape. Look at the way that she’s used a limited palette of earthy browns and muted blues. It's as if the colors were mixed with the landscape itself! The paint is applied in thin washes, allowing the paper to breathe and create a sense of light and air. Notice the precision of the lines and shapes, and how they build depth and form, especially the way the hills roll and overlap. Then there are these tiny dots, like when she painted the leaves of the trees. It’s as if they’re dancing in the breeze. This attention to detail reminds me of Agnes Martin, who similarly used repetition and subtle variations to create a sense of meditative calm. With Angus, it’s all about seeing, feeling, and translating the essence of a place onto paper. Art isn’t just about representation, it’s about experience and sharing that experience with others.