Story: Criticism and the arts

Depicting a different landscape

Depicting a different landscape

Alfred Sharpe's insistence on the need to look at the New Zealand landscape with fresh eyes is put into practice in this 1876 watercolour, 'View of Taupiri village and plain from the top of Little Taupiri Hill'. He wrote, 'As a rule nothing is more dingy than the scenery of the Waikato district in broad daylight with its browns & grey greens – but at sunset the landscape lights up with the most gorgeous colours – orange, yellow & deep violets & purples predominating.'

Using this item

Auckland Art Gallery – Toi o Tāmaki
Reference: 1951/10
Watercolour by Alfred Sharpe

Permission of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Rebecca Rice and Mark Williams, 'Criticism and the arts - Colonial criticism', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/42909/depicting-a-different-landscape (accessed 27 April 2024)

Story by Rebecca Rice and Mark Williams, published 22 Oct 2014