Nave Nave Fenua (Delightful Land)

About this work

This woodcut shows a woman holding a baby, standing in front of a large, stylized figure with a bird-like head. The background has bold patterns and text—partly readable as "Nave Nave Fenua"—along with geometric shapes and swirling lines. The woman’s face is calm, but the bird-like figure looms behind her, its wings spread wide. The artist used sharp contrasts between light and dark areas to create depth, a hallmark of woodcut printing. The text at the top hints at a Polynesian phrase, suggesting a dreamlike or faraway setting. Next, look up woodcut to see how artists carve images into wood blocks.