Rita Angus Clutch/Bag - Rutu

Rita Angus is one of New Zealand’s most iconic artists.

Over the course of her life she produced a remarkable body of drawings, watercolours, and paintings. A committed feminist, and a pacifist, Angus’ work was deeply entwined with her view of the world. In her portraits and landscape paintings, with their distinctive clear colours and flat, graphic style, she created a unique image of 20th-century Aotearoa.

Te Papa have created a stunning collection of bags/purses featuring her iconic work.  This clutch bag depicts the image from the painting "Rutu" 

 Of the many self-portraits produced by Rita Angus throughout her life, Rutu is one of the most enigmatic, richly symbolic and compelling. Although Rutu certainly bears a striking resemblance to the artist, her letters to composer Douglas Lilburn reveal that she regarded the painting as an imaginary portrait rather than a self-portrait.

Dimensions 250mmx180mm

Back of the purse has the inscription "Everything I paint has the sense of being alive"