The Tortoise

  • Title
    The Tortoise
  • Artist
    unknown
  • Location
    Oenpelli, West Arnhem Land, Northern Territory
  • Date
    early 1960s
  • Size
    72cm (L) x 37cm (W)
  • Price
    SOLD

There are four kinds of tortoise in the Oenpelli area: the long-necked freshwater tortoise and three other kinds of short-necked tortoises. The artist would have identified which species he was painting as each type is associated with a different Dreamtime Ancestor Being.  The image on the bark is  as you might imagine finding on the great cave galleries walls in the stone escarpment country of West Arnhem Land

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There are four kinds of tortoise in the Oenpelli area: the long-necked freshwater tortoise and three other kinds of short-necked tortoises. The artist would have identified which species he was painting as each type is associated with a different Dreamtime Ancestor Being.  The image on the bark is  as you might imagine finding on the great cave galleries walls in the stone escarpment country of West Arnhem Land