The Marys at the Tomb

Of all the New Zealand artists working in the 20th century, Colin McCahon ’s art is the most challenging. A painter concerned with profound issues of spirituality and human existence, his art has not always been understood. McCahon’s vision is unparalleled and he remains the most influential artist in New Zealand’s art history.

As an instance of contemporary religious art, The Marys at the Tomb sites the resurrection of Jesus Christ within an Otago landscape, with the Angel of the Lord appearing to three witnesses. This painting shocked people in the 1950s, and such bewildered responses to his work continued throughout McCahon’s career.

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