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The tohunga-tā-moko at work
This well known painting shows a young chief on the King Country frontier receiving a chisel moko. The tohunga tā moko (tattooing expert) holds his uhi (chisel) in his left hand, with its blade dipped in pigment. Round his little finger is wrapped soft flax pith for wiping away blood. In his other hand, he holds his māhoe (mallet).
Abstract text adapted from Te Ara, CC BY-NC 3.0 NZ.
Rights: Gottfried Lindauer. The Tohunga-ta-moko at Work, oil on canvas, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of Mr H E Partridge, 1915.
Published: 15 November 2018Size: 92.44 KB
