I chose these paintings because:
- There are many paintings of women working where the head is bent over their work. They do not engage with the viewer. I find this makes the focus more on the work than the woman. She has been de-personalised. So I chose paintings where the subject gazes out at us, even though this means that she has either paused her work or sits dressed to reflect her work.
- these women look at us and their gazes are complex. Is their gaze inward or outward?
- these women are productive in their work and in their pastimes
- they are socially diverse
- and quite simply, their gazes fascinate me
Pit Brow Girl 1895
Hannah Keen (1873–1899)
Oil on canvas
H 39 x W 29 cm
National Coal Mining Museum for England
A Girl in Costume Knitting 1893
Ralph Hedley (1848–1913)
Oil on panel
H 40 x W 29.4 cm
Laing Art Gallery
Mavis Blackburn (1923–2005)
Oil on canvas
H 70 x W 50.8 cm
Williamson Art Gallery & Museum
Mildred Katherine Pope, Vice-Principal (1929–1934) 1934
Herbert James Gunn (1893–1964)
Oil on canvas
H 75 x W 61 cm
Somerville College, University of Oxford
The Milkmaid c.1912
Ruth Simpson (1889–1964)
Oil on canvas
H 92 x W 61.5 cm
Penlee House Gallery & Museum
Auxiliary Fire Service Girl, City Fire Station 1940
Ethel Léontine Gabain (1883–1950)
Oil on canvas
H 78.7 x W 66 cm
Southwark Art Collection
Mrs Pat Rule, née Detmold, Mayor of Royston (1974–1976 & 1980–1981) 1940s
Ernest Herbert Whydale (1886–1952)
Oil on canvas
H 61 x W 51 cm
Royston & District Museum & Art Gallery
