Artist: Louise Henderson

A DigitalNZ Story by squiggle_top

1902 -1994. Born in France. Lived in New Zealand.

Louise Henderson, cubism, artist

Image: Louise Henderson

1955

Louise Henderson

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Louise Henderson 1972

1972

Louise Henderson 1972

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

The Group

An association of artists formed in Canterbury, members included Louise Henderson, Rita Angus, Olivia Spencer Bower, Doris Lusk, Rata Lovell-Smith, Philip Trusttrum, Toss Woollaston and Leo Bensemann. 

Image: A 1936 photograph of The Group, an association of artists formed in reaction to the conservative art establishment

The Group.

Photo includes Rata Lovell-Smith (left), Ngaio Marsh (wearing beret), and Louise Henderson (right).

A 1936 photograph of The Group, an association of artists formed in reaction to the conservative art establishment

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Painting together at Cass 

In May 1936, three artists went to Cass together. They stayed there for ten days at the Mountain Biological Station (owned by Canterbury University College), painting and sketching the surrounding countryside. 

Wikipedia entries about the three artists: 

Image: Painting of Arthur's Pass by Louise Henderson

Painting by Louise Henderson

Painting of Arthur's Pass by Louise Henderson

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Rita Angus’s ‘Cass’

Painting by Rita Angus

Rita Angus’s ‘Cass’

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Mountains, Cass

Painting by Julia Scarvell

Mountains, Cass

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Exhibitions

Interview with Julia Waite, one of the curators of "Louise Henderson: From Life" exhibition (2019-2020)

Celebrating French NZ artist Louise Henderson

Radio New Zealand

Paintings

Landscapes and buildings

Image: Haunted House, Wellington

Haunted House, Wellington

The Arts House Trust

Image: Bush Revisited

Bush Revisited

Lincoln University

Image: Tinakori hill

Tinakori hill

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: Bush Series 3

Bush Series 3

Te Pataka Toi Adam Art Gallery

Image: Louise Henderson, 'The lakes'

Louise Henderson, 'The lakes'

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Rarotongan Foliage

Rarotongan Foliage

The Arts House Trust

Image: Dieppe

Dieppe

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: Houses in Dieppe

Houses in Dieppe

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: House at Dieppe

House at Dieppe

The Arts House Trust

Image: Jerusalem series no. 4

Jerusalem series no. 4

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: Duravel no. 2

Duravel no. 2

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: Amman

Amman

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: Baghdad

Baghdad

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

People and still life studies

Image: Samoan woman in yellow

Samoan woman in yellow

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: Untitled

Untitled

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: Still Life

Still Life

Te Pataka Toi Adam Art Gallery

Image: Study for Woman in Blue

Study for Woman in Blue

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: Nude

Nude

Gus Fisher Gallery

Les Deux Amies - The Two Friends

  • Nichols, C., & Waters, L. (2016). Undressed: A study of Louise Henderson’s ‘Les Deux Amies’ (1953). Back Story Journal of New Zealand Art, Media & Design History, (1), 5-21. https://doi.org/10.24135/backstory.vi1.9  
Image: Les deux amies (The two friends)

Les deux amies (The two friends)

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Study for 'Les deux amies'

Study for 'Les deux amies'

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Painting conservation

Interview with Linda Waters, conservator at Te Papa. 2015.

Linda talks about working on Les deux amies.

Painting conservation

Radio New Zealand

Image: Masterpieces

Interview with Chelsea Nichols, art historian at Te Papa. 2016.

Chelsea talks about one of her favourite Louise Henderson paintings, Les deux amies.

Masterpieces

Radio New Zealand

Additional Resources

  • Biography entry by Elizabeth M. Grierson. 'Henderson, Louise Etiennette Sidonie' first published in 2000. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. URL https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5h16/henderson-louise-etiennette-sidonie [accessed 10 October 2023]
  • Wikipedia entry: Louise Henderson [accessed 10 October 2023] 
  • Louise Henderson Archive. Auckland Art Gallery. [accessed 10 October 2023]
Image: Four rad female artists of the 1930s–50s

Four rad female artists of the 1930s-50s. May 2015.

Chelsea Nichols explores the work of Rita Angus, Doris Lusk, Louise Henderson, and Lois White.

Four rad female artists of the 1930s–50s

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Heritage Talks: Two artists and their architects with Megan Walker

Heritage Talk: two artists and their architects. 2021.

Megan Walker (Historic Heritage Specialist, Auckland Council) discusses two artists spaces, including Louise Henderson.

Heritage Talks: Two artists and their architects with Megan Walker

Auckland Libraries

This DigitalNZ story was created October 2023, and updated January 2025.