watercolour, varnish and oil on canvas

Artwork date: 2009
Signature details: signed, dated and inscribed with the artist's name, title and medium on the reverse
Exhibited: Vela Projects, Cape Town, ‘Heroes and Villains’, 17 May to 6 July 2024.

(1)

60 x 60 cm; framed size: 62.5 x 62.5 x 3.5 cm

Provenance:

Private collection, Cape Town.

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Robert Hodgins was a keen social observer who approached the complexities of human life with a mix of curiosity and critique. He described people as "visual facts" or "painting facts," suggesting that through image-making, these facts gradually become "real facts".[1] For Hodgins, painting was not just a creative endeavour but a means to visually explore and reflect on the intricacies of the human experience. By translating his observations into themes and metaphors, he created artworks that were both entertaining and thought-provoking.

The brilliant Turn of the Century shows Hodgins' interest in portraying people within social or historical contexts. Here, two figures, a man and a woman, emerge as satirical characters from a bygone era. Loosely rendered against a vibrant backdrop of yellows, oranges, and reds. Their indistinct features give them a surreal, dreamlike quality, reminiscent of a beautiful, faded memory.

The title suggests the artist’s contemplation of the changes and tensions experienced at the turn of a century, hinting at themes of modernisation, unease, the clash between old-world values and a new era as well as the impact of time on human behaviour.

Hodgins portrays the figures with both humour and endearing charm, examining power dynamics and societal roles. The man, in formal attire, symbolizes outdated power structures, while his blurred face signifies the erosion of authority. The woman, holding a fan, represents traditional femininity, but her distorted features reflect the evolving roles of women in the 20th century.

Painted in 2009, a year before Hodgins’ passing, Turn of the Century resonates with profound thematic depth. It is an outstanding work which serves as a testament to the artist's exceptional technical skill in painting, bold and strategic use of colour to evoke emotion, and above all his artistic ingenuity.

Marelize van Zyl

^{[1] Smith, K (2008), 'Some General Rules: Robert Hodgins in Conversation with Kathryn Smith’ in Julia Charlton, J and Buys, A. (eds) (2012). A Lasting Impression: The Robert Hodgins Print Archive. Johannesburg: Wits Art Museum, p.130.}

COLLECTIONS:

The artist is represented in numerous local and international collections, notably, the Anglo-American collection, Johannesburg; Johannesburg Art Gallery; Javett Art Centre, Pretoria; Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town; University of the Witwatersrand Art Gallery, Johannesburg and the William Humphreys Art Gallery, Kimberly.