Colin McCahon, 'The Angel of the Annunciation', 1947 - Print - wholesale nga tapuwae Print size: 596 x 802mm

Print size: 596 x 802mm

Has a colossal squid ever been seen alive

through the eyes of those who work with these paintings

including the Captain Cook range of figurines produced exclusively for Te Papa

and the three friends met for meals in the evenings and often hosted parties together

Colin McCahon, 'The Angel of the Annunciation', 1947 - Print - wholesale nga tapuwae Print size: 596 x 802mmCommenting on The Groups 1947 exhibition, in which these paintings were shown, critic and poet ARD Fairburn suggested that they might pass as graffiti on the walls of some celestial lavatory. 1 Fairburns assessment was far from typical of the reception of Colin McCahons work at this time. Poet James K Baxter wrote about it enthusiastically, as did the historian JC Beaglehole. Even reviewers who found McCahons paintings challenging were prepared to