Self-portrait with fruit

Here, Rita Angus’s vision of herself is rooted in painting, domestic life, and the natural rhythms of the garden. The work seems full of symbolism and significance – the thistle could refer to her Scottish ancestry.

In 1955, Angus moved to Wellington, where she had friends and family. She quickly became involved in the local art world, and bought a house in Thorndon. That cottage is in the background of this otherwordly watercolour.