1869 -1947 · New Zealand modernism, watercolor and European landscapes

Fluid watercolors, stretched figures, landscape objects and muted colors make Frances Hodgkins a major voice in modernism between New Zealand and Great Britain.

Frances Mary Hodgkins was born in Dunedin in 1869 into a family where painting played an important role. His father, William Mathew Hodgkins, was a watercolorist and actor in New Zealand artistic life. Frances trained in this environment then exhibited and taught before undertaking, from 1901, a series of trips which transformed her career. In Europe, she worked in France, the Netherlands, Italy, Morocco and Great Britain. Watercolor offered her mobility, speed and transparency: In Europe, she worked in France, the Netherlands, Italy, Morocco and Great Britain. Watercolor offered her mobility, speed and transparency: in Europe, she worked in France, the Netherlands, Italy, Morocco and Great Britain. Watercolor offered her mobility, speed and transparency: in Europe, she worked in France, the Netherlands, Italy, Morocco and Great Britain. Watercolor offered her mobility, speed and transparency: in Europe, she worked in France, the Netherlands, Italy, Morocco and Great Britain. Watercolor offered her mobility, speed and transparency: markets, villages, working women and street scenes were captured by a color which gradually simplified drawing. After returning to New Zealand, she finally chose Europe and settled permanently in England. In the 1920s and 1930s, Hodgkins approached the British avant-gardes and exhibited with the Seven and Five Society. His language becomes freer. Figures, houses, boats, flowers and utensils are no longer separated according to the categories of portrait, landscape or still life; they fit together in a surface punctuated by curves, angles and colorful passages. The Edwardians bring together characters in an atmosphere where social description already dissolves into the movement of painting. Hodgkins uses watercolor, gouache and oil, often with a range of earths, greens, blue grays and bright accents. Recognized late as one of Britain's important modern artists, she continued to work despite the war and poor health. She died in Dorset in 1947. Her work links colonial experience, travel and formal European invention. The "Frances Hodgkins" selection notably compares Les Édouardiens. His reading favors light.

Hodgkins does not juxtapose figure, object and landscape: she slides them into each other until color becomes their common space.