Melvin Day

Working Men’s Huts, Rotoiti

Working Men’s Huts, Rotoiti by Melvin Day

Artwork Detail

This work shows a cluster of huts built for working men involved in the timber industry in the Bay of Plenty region. These huts were likely built during the depression and closely relate to those depicted in Frances Hunt's 'P.W.D. tents, Pumice Country, Taupo', 1935, which is in the collection of Auckland Art Gallery. Day's reduced palette and smooth simplified forms are characteristic of the dominant 'Elam style', promuglated by A.J.C. Fisher and Lois White.

This painting is significant due to the socio-political content, and for its rare depiction of dwellings occupied by working people.

Title
Working Men’s Huts, Rotoiti
Artist/creator
Melvin Day
Production date
circa 1947
Medium
oil on board
Dimensions
340 x 350 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of Melvin and Oroya Day, 2015
Accession no
2015/25/1
Copyright
Copying restrictions apply
Department
New Zealand Art
Display status
Not on display

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