Society of Women Painters

The Society of Women Painters was a major art group in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia in the early 20th century with a significant history across three decades.

Significant women creatives of the period such as Eirene Mort, Florence Taylor, Florence Rodway, Ethel Stephens, Maude Sherwood, Frank Payne, Bernice Edwell, Hulda Marshall and Gladys Owen had long connections to the Society of Women Painters and unlike later art historians, contemporary sources document most members as being well trained active professionals with noticeable public profiles, rather than suburban hobbyists.

"During the past three years the pressure of exhibitors claiming space at the Royal Art Society's annual show has led to a good deal of discontent and in 1908 two or three groups of women painters held exhibitions of their own with a large measure of success.

In 1928 Lady Fuller, seated on a throne in a bower of greenery, was crowned Queen by Ethel Stephens, in front of 200 guests at the Society of Women Painters' fundraising pageant.

"The trouble with this exhibition is that most of the women painters have nothing to say; with the exception of Misses Davis, Rodway, Winckler, Rodd, MacWhannell, and one or two others, they show work that is uninspired, timid, and characterless.

The concepts link into widely held beliefs aired by both conservative and radical male artists in Sydney, including, but not only, Lionel Lindsay.

In February 1935 "after 25 years of useful service, the council of the Society of Women Painters of New South Wales decided to enlarge its scope and activities and include arts connected with industry.

There were also fine arts exhibits, including by longstanding supporters of the Society of Women Painters such as Ethel Stephens and Maud Sherwood.

The Society remained active until c 1940,[18] (as documented by Harry Tatlock Miller and Wassily de Basil speaking to the group) presented applied art demonstrations at the Sydney Easter Show in 1938,[19] entertained members of the Ballets Russes, discussed and later exhibited stage designs[20] and organised exhibitions of photography,[21] Chinese art and design,[22] textiles[23] and posters[24] among other media including contemporary work.