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This exhibition brings together many of the paintings featuring women in our collection. Historically, there were generally limited roles for women in art. Paintings were mostly made by men, bought by men for their own or the town’s collection and displayed by men for much of the first part of their history. There are exceptions to this at various points in time, of course.
Men in our collections are shown in limited roles as well - very often as businessmen, town elders or as head of the family. There are no paintings of men sleeping, helping children or carrying out domestic tasks.
The later section of the exhibition includes some loans from contemporary artists to give a taste of the many excellent artists working today whose work featu

17 artworks
The Red Lacquer Cabinet
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Gallery Oldham

The Red Lacquer Cabinet

Archibald George Barnes (1887–1972)

Oil on canvas

H 76.2 x W 62.2 cm

Gallery Oldham

The Burmese Dancer IV
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Gallery Oldham

The Burmese Dancer IV 1919–1920

Gerald Festus Kelly (1879–1972)

Oil on canvas

H 117 x W 81 cm

Gallery Oldham

The Spanish Shawl
Image credit: Gallery Oldham

The Spanish Shawl exhibited 1924

Ernest Henry MacAndrew (1877–1950)

Oil on canvas

H 110.5 x W 85 cm

Gallery Oldham

Ann Todd
Image credit: Gallery Oldham

Ann Todd

Thomas Martine Ronaldson (1881–1942)

Oil on canvas

H 112 x W 85.5 cm

Gallery Oldham

A Patchwork Quilt
Image credit: Gallery Oldham

A Patchwork Quilt

George Henry Wimpenny (1857–1939)

Oil on canvas

H 75 x W 62 cm

Gallery Oldham

My Kitchen
Image credit: Gallery Oldham

My Kitchen 1923

Harold Charles Harvey (1874–1941)

Oil on canvas

H 100.5 x W 77.5 cm

Gallery Oldham

Hélène Rouart in her Father's Study
Image credit: The National Gallery, London

Hélène Rouart in her Father's Study about 1886

Edgar Degas (1834–1917)

Oil on canvas

H 162.5 x W 121 cm

The National Gallery, London

A Fisherman's Daughter
Image credit: Gallery Oldham

A Fisherman's Daughter

Thomas Edwin Mostyn (1864–1930)

Oil on canvas

H 89 x W 70.5 cm

Gallery Oldham

The Soldier's Daughter
© the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Gallery Oldham

The Soldier's Daughter 1930

Allan Gwynne-Jones (1892–1982)

Oil on canvas

H 43.2 x W 40.6 cm

Gallery Oldham

Finishing Touches
Image credit: Gallery Oldham

Finishing Touches c.1920

George Henry Wimpenny (1857–1939)

Oil on canvas

H 102 x W 65 cm

Gallery Oldham

Mill Girl with a Shawl
© the artist's estate. Image credit: Gallery Oldham

Mill Girl with a Shawl

Patti Mayor (1872–1962)

Oil on canvas

H 70 x W 46 cm

Gallery Oldham

Damilola
© the artist. Image credit: Gallery Oldham

Damilola 2009

Titus Agbara (b.1974)

Oil on canvas

H 90 x W 60 cm

Gallery Oldham

Girl in a Wood
Image credit: Gallery Oldham

Girl in a Wood

Alan Beeton (1880–1942)

Oil on canvas

H 152.5 x W 100 cm

Gallery Oldham

Dorothy and Marjory Lees
Image credit: Gallery Oldham

Dorothy and Marjory Lees c.1891–1892

Theodore Blake Wirgman (1848–1925)

Oil on canvas

H 49 x W 59.5 cm

Gallery Oldham

Dame Sarah Lees (1842–1935)
© the artist's estate. Image credit: Gallery Oldham

Dame Sarah Lees (1842–1935) before 1912

Hugh Goldwin Riviere (1869–1956)

Oil on canvas

H 350 x W 145 cm

Gallery Oldham

Portrait of Two Sisters
© the artist. Image credit: Gallery Oldham

Portrait of Two Sisters 1993

Aneela Majid (b.1963)

Oil on canvas

H 153 x W 114.4 cm

Gallery Oldham

Circe Offering the Cup to Ulysses
Image credit: Gallery Oldham

Circe Offering the Cup to Ulysses 1891

John William Waterhouse (1849–1917)

Oil on canvas

H 148 x W 92 cm

Gallery Oldham