Discover 'Tuhituhi: William Hodges, Cook's Painter in the South Pacific', a groundbreaking hardback study authored by Laurence Simmons, which meticulously examines the art and impact of William Hodges on our understanding of the South Pacific. This 346-page book offers fresh theoretical perspectives on Hodges' early paintings, capturing the essence of the Pacific Islands through a lens of cross-cultural exchange. Delve into the representational challenges of the 18th century as Hodges, the official artist on Cook's voyage aboard the Resolution, challenges traditional conventions of painting like the picturesque and sublime. Each chapter provides an illuminating close reading of key artworks, inviting readers to explore significant South Pacific locations that shaped Hodges' visual narrative. The final chapter highlights Hodges' lasting influence on renowned New Zealand painter Colin McCahon, creating a vital link between historical and contemporary art. Perfect for art historians, students, and anyone fascinated by Pacific Island cultures, this book is an essential addition to your collection. Don't miss your chance to explore this unique artistic journey through a historical lens. Order now with ease—smart shipping options are available as this product is in stock in New Zealand, eliminating unexpected import charges or customs duties.

CONDITION: Brand New
Dimensions: 170 x 240 mm
Pages: 346
Bind: hardback
Author: Laurence Simmons Publisher: Otago University Press


This study of the art of William Hodges opens fresh theoretical perspectives on the representational problems raised by these early paintings produced in the South Pacific. Following Pacific Island historians of the 1960s, it argues that it is possible to read the texts and visual material produced from early South Seas encounters against the grain, as moments of cross-cultural exchange that challenge postcolonial complacencies. Tuhituhi is presented in sections that follow the geographical and chronological progression of Cook’s voyage on the Resolution, for which William Hodges was hired as official artist, Cook’s ‘landskip painter’. Painters like Hodges found themselves staring again and again in disbelief at landscapes and seascapes that stretched 18th-century conventions of painting, such as the ‘picturesque’, the ‘sublime’ and the ‘beautiful’. Each chapter of Tuhituhi focuses on the close reading of a significant painting of a South Pacific location by Hodges. The last chapter considers the important influence of Hodges’ work on a series of paintings by the major twentieth-century New Zealand painter Colin McCahon.

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