THE THOROUGHLY MODERN WOMAN
Frances Hodgkins fashioned self-portraits in still life. Instead of painting herself, she filled the canvas with her favourite things: her beloved beret, decadently draped scarves, sweet flowers and smart kitten heels. Stand-ins for her true self, they reveal layers of her personality in joyfully mastered strokes.
Like many New Zealanders with a love of art, Kate Sylvester grew up admiring Frances’ works. The remarkable expatriate, known in Britain as one of the most important modernist painters of the 20th century, brought a fresh perspective and Kate loved the femininity of
