In 1907 Frances Hodgkins was contentedly painting and teaching in Holland. She stayed at the Pennock's Hotel in Dordrecht where her bedroom window overlooked the canal, a subject which she took great pleasure in painting. That winter Frances wrote to her mother:

My Darling Mother
....There has been a lovely pink barge in the canal in front of my window and I have been painting it. I sent Pete the waiter over to find out how long it was going to remain & to tell the captain I was painting it & to stop as long as he conveniently could. The captain, much pleased, ran up a little Dutch flag and saluted me at the window....

1907 was a pivotal year in Hodgkins' career. While living in Holland she was able to make occasional visits to Amsterdam and benefited from studying the great Dutch Masters. During this year she also held her first solo exhibition at Patterson's Gallery in Bond Street, London, and also had two paintings included in an important show in Amsterdam. She was successful in several other art exhibitions both at home and in Europe. With her increasing international reputation she finally resolved to remain in Europe rather than return to New Zealand.

Provenance

The Ewing Collection, Melbourne

Private Collection, Auckland