Francis Hodgkins was born in Dunedin where she began to develop her watercolour painting style. Francis, however, spent most of her 56 year long working career as an artist overseas, both in France and England during a period of a social upheaval and two world wars. Her works capture the spirit of an era greatly influenced by Impressionism and the beginnings of en plein air painting, Post-Impressionism, Fauvism and two World Wars. Although her work wasn’t as widely accepted back in New Zealand during her own time, she was a leader of the English avant-garde movement. A style that allowed her to become one of the foremost artists of her generation. She travelled extensively and evolved her style from impressionistic watercolours to striking twentieth-century modernist paintings. She rose to many heights in the international art world during her life, reflecting her very fulfilling and extensive career, making her one of New Zealand’s most prestigious and influential painters.
Anne Kirker (1993) commented that ‘Frances Hodgkins’ most impressive quality was this ability to recharge her artistic vocabulary, to search continually for a more meaningful way to express her vision. She approached most of her paintings, whether in oil, watercolour or gouache [watercolour mixed with opaque white paint], as though facing unexplored territory.’
Please note that processing time for Museum Collection Prints/Mātātuhi mai i kohinga o Te Papa is 5 to 10 business days.
Print size: 495 x 415mm including 8mm border
Image colours may differ on personal devices compared to the physical print due to screen variations.