Lower right (l.r.) in pencil: Colin McCahon Jan 1968; u.c. in pencil: Easter landscape with the three falls & an epilogue; inscribed through image: [colour notes]
This is one of McCahon's major works of the mid-1970s, along with the Urewera Mural, the Blind series, and the Parihaka Triptych. It has several motivations and triggers. The primary one is the shining cuckoo's song, spoken of in a Maori poem passed…
(1.:) l.c.: title, Colin McCahon. August 20-21, 70; u.c.: upper frame; glazier’s instructions inscribed throughout; verso on unattached card backing: Colin McCahon, title, To be hung over no 2. (2.:) l.c.: title, actual size, lower panel, Colin…
Married and living with his wife and young son near Nelson in 1946-48, McCahon turned from depicting landscapes to Christian imagery. By synthesizing disparate elements - portraiture, still life and symbolism (the lamp and jug) with words McCahon…