Bob Souch is a New Zealand art dealer who found one of his countryman’s works in a regional auction and bought from far side of the world. Frances Hodgkin was born in New Zealand but achieved fame as a painter in England:

“We have been in this business for over 20 years and it’s very rare that you get a major work by a New Zealand artist that hasn’t been seen in New Zealand before.”

He said Frances Hodgkins was arguably one of the four most important New Zealand artists, and one of the few to become famous in her own lifetime.

The painting still had its original wood and plaster frame, and even more exciting was the original 1944 exhibition label and price, 65, on the back, he said.

“That was a lot of money then. It would have probably bought a house.”

Souch is now selling the work in New Zealand for NZ$39,000 (US$29,207).

Rediscovered Hodgkins Painting Returned to NZ (Stuff.co.nz)