The Lake c. 1930 - 1935

Editor: This is Frances Hodgkins’ “The Lake,” a watercolor work held at the Tate. There's a definite stillness in the scene, but also a kind of domestic coziness. What stands out to you as you look at this piece? Curator: It's crucial to consider Hodgkins' position as a woman artist navigating modernism. The ‘still life’ setting can be read as a commentary on the domestic sphere and its constraints but also its potential for creative reimagining. How does her use of fluid watercolor challenge traditional notions of the feminine? Editor: That's interesting. I never thought about the choice of medium in terms of gender. Curator: Exactly. Think about how the blurring of forms and the subversion of perspective might reflect a desire to dismantle rigid social constructs. Editor: That perspective really reframes how I see the painting. Thanks! Curator: Art enables us to challenge norms.