ARTIST OF THE WEEK: William Hodges, 1744-1797
When considering expeditionary art of the eighteenth century, English painter William Hodges is easily one of the key figures to take note of. Hodges accompanied Captain James Cook on his second voyage to the Pacific, between 1772 and 1775, where he produced detailed sketches and paintings of island landscapes, specifically Tahiti (then called Otaheite) and Easter Island. He also documented views of Antarctica and the tip of South Africa. After this monumental journey, Hodges travelled to India and stayed there for six years. A book was published soon after filled with his studies and drawings of Indian landscapes.
