Frances Hodgkins (1869-1947), New Zealand/England, Cut melons, about 1931, oil paint on cardboard. Purchased 1980 with Special Projects in the Arts funds

Surreal still life

A review of Frances Hodgkins’ work, including Cut melons, described the artist as ‘an unconscious surrealist … at her best, perhaps, in persuading still-life objects that they really belong to the landscape.’

The radical nature of Hodgkins’ painting gained her increasing respect in England and Europe, but worked against her in New Zealand. In 1944, Cut melons was one of six Hodgkins paintings turned down for acquisition by the National Art Gallery. It was eventually purchased in 1980.

Born in Dunedin, Hodgkins spent most of her adult life in Europe. Her membership of innovative British groups such as the Seven and Five Society and the London Group were of key importance in developing her experimental approach.