Beautiful—both the wood engravings and the interplay with Austen’s story. I’m reminded of a recent exhibition at the Art Gallery of Ontario dedicated to European women artists who worked in a time when painting was impossible for many. There was a flowering of crafts, many textile-based, that could be easily put away when visitors arrived or domestic duties called.
Thank you very much, Rona. I will look up the gallery in Ontario as I didn't know anything about it and it sounds so interesting. Such crafts enabled woment to produce work that would otherwise have not been possible, and of course, textiles were part of that. So many women's work such as this would not have been seen and I feel now on a mission to discover more!
Oh lovely piece thank you - I am fascinated by Claire Leighton; her book about making a garden is so interesting (Four Hedges) written in the thirties and very entertaining … and I so wanted to find out more about her after I read it; she was living with a left wing journalist at the time and later went to America but I couldn’t find any biographies of her … I wanted to know if she went on to make more gardens … all the things I come across about her (illustrating the work of Canadian lumberjacks at one point) make me want to know so much more !
Didn't she have an extraordinary life? I love her books and have two tiny prints of hers, bought over 30 years ago, that I treasure. She writes so well too. I don't know of a biography of her, but it really should be written. Thank you, I am so glad you liked it.
I enjoy your erudite work. It's well crafted and informative, and would one day would like to upgrade to subscription. But as I am on a limited budget, I just can't at present. So fortunate to have found you. Thank you for enriching my life
Clare Leighton was the first engraver I ever knew of. In fact, seeing a friend’s copy of her book “The Farmer’s Year” sometime in the 1970s was how I learned that these sort of striking black and white images weren’t drawings at all.
My friend had found the book under the bed, with a pile of other left behind stuff, when she moved into her first bedsit in Liverpool. That was the only precious thing in the pile though!
Sometimes great art finds its own way to the right people. Because I’ll bet she’s still got it.
I didn't realise what an impact they had on me. I always wanted my prints to be in black and white and I feel sure now it was because of that early impression. Clare Leighton's images have such dynamism and strength. I have two tiny prints of hers: one is of broad beans and the other is of a tree being felled. The cost on the back is £8.75 and I must have had them at least 30 years. Great art does find a way to reach those who love it.
Thank you for these wonderful discoveries. I have Frances Spalding's biography of Gwen Raverat waiting to be read, and I was lucky enough to see some of Elisabeth Vellacott's work in the Manor at Hemingford Grey last autumn, when Diana Boston gave us a tour of the house.
Gwen Raverat was amazing, not least for her engravings, but also her work "Period Piece". The Frances Spalding is excellent and well worth reading. I really hope to revisit the Manor again this summer as I didn't take much note of Elisabeth Vellacott's work at the time as I was so astounded at " The Children of Green Knowe" coming alive! Thank you for reading it and I am so pleased you liked it.
Greetings 🐝, another delicious delightful post that has sent me scurrying off down numerous rabbit holes! I had heard of the first four artists but not the last two. Gwen Raverat’s Period Piece is simply wonderful and the biography by Frances Spalding is fascinating. Both books are on the shelves of the Booknook. As is a slim volume of Gilbert White’s Natural History of Selborne illustrated by Clare Leighton in 1941. Possibly the prize piece of my Gilbert White collection and that’s saying something! Simon Martin’s brilliant book ‘Drawn to nature: Gilbert White and the artists’ features Gertrude Hermes and Agnes Miller Parker, who I hadn’t heard of previously to reading his book. He also mentioned a woman called Claire Oldham , another wood engraver of this period. Do you have a copy of this book? If not, I do warn you that it ‘encourages’ many more book purchases.
It was a reply that you wrote to a reader about having some Clare Leighton prints that sent me off on a search of the book book as I remembered have purchased a couple of small pieces myself, a number of years ago and then putting them away somewhere safe until I could get them framed. Luckily located and now for the wall.
I also love Jane Austen and adored P&P as a young teenager. It’s incredible to think that Gilbert White and the divine Jane lived within a view short miles from each other.
Oh Ruth, you have sent me scouting my shelves looking for "Drawn to Nature" as I had forgotten all about it. I finally found it! Thank you very much for the reminder and suspect it will lead me into temptation...It is such a beautiful book.
I am glad you found your prints, they really are exquisite, aren't they? I have them in my little study and they bring me great pleasure.
I love P and P, but my favourite now is Mansfield Park.
I went to Chawton and Selborne on the same day many years ago and loved both places. I especially loved the stained glass depicting his birds in the church, which is remarkable.
Thank you for your lovely message and for the distraction. Xx
I have both "Period Piece" and "Four Hedges" I love the intricacies of woodcuts. I was recently given The Darkening Green by Elizabeth Clarke each chapter of which is headed with woodcuts by Richard Shirley Smith. The way that you plait two differing art forms together as with these women artists and Jane Austen is brilliant.
Long Live Great Bardfield by Thirza Garwood has been on my wish list for a long while.
I saw your post and have tried to get hold of a copy of " The Darkening Green", but it is a bit out of my price range online, so I will look out for it. But I do have " The Valley" which I haven't yet read. I really want to see the exhibition by Tirzah Garwood and do hope I can make it before it closes, her work is so witty and whimsical.
A couple of new printmakers for me to research-thank you so much! And such beautiful prints. Thank you for always sharing your knowledge, and your research, I learn so much from your posts. And your beautiful bird prints sit very well within this group of wonderful women artists. x
Seeing that book, so long ago, had quite an impact! Their work is so exquisite and especially love Gertrude Hermes who is so quirky. Thank you very much, Cally x
I am enjoying your posts so much and look forward to every new one. I love learning about these women who went unsung but contributed so much. Thank you.
Wonderful article and stunning prints. What a world to discover! I particularly like the snowdrop. I look forward to learning more about these artists. Thank you!
The work is so beautiful isn't it? Gertrude Hermes is my favourite, if I had to choose, as her work is so distinctive. What I have learned already about them has sent me off down somany rabbit holes! Thank you very much for reading it.
Wow, these images really show the range of styles possible in woodcuts. Thanks for sharing them. I love your linocut birds too.
The size of Jane Austen's table, and the idea of her having to write at it on small sheets of paper in the family room with distractions and conversations around her, emphasises her achievement. I feel quite spoilt with my computer, and selection of A5 and A4 notebooks, spread out on a big table in the spare room!
Thank you, Jacqueline, I am so pleased you enjoyed the wood engravings.
As I write, my papers are spread all about me and simply cannot imagine working on such a tiny desk. To have produced the novels she did, in such constrained circumstances, really does make her achievement all the more remarkable.
These wood cuts are so lovely, thank you. I took a semester of woodcut in college and have always wanted to get back to it. It is such a beautiful process.
Off at a tangent but still involving woodcarving and women…have you heard of the Pinwill sisters? There has been a resurgence of interest in their work down here in the SW since Helen Wilson’s book about them was published. They carved the most exquisite pews, fonts and rood screens in local churches.
I think you’d like them and their back story…they were clergy daughters.
Thank you! I have heard of them, partly as I saw Helen Wilson's book on Twitter some whole ago, but I had forgotten all about them. I shall have to look them up as I remember their work being remarkable.
I enjoyed reading this. I saw Clare Leighton's Apple Picking in a magazine. I bought Clare's book 'Four Hedges', from which the image was taken. It has so many lovely images and I like the seasonal story of her garden. I am looking forward to watching the Jane Austen series. I shall watch the films you suggest too.
Thank you, Gill, it is such a beautiful image, isn't it? I loved " Four Hedges" too. I hope you enjoy " Miss Austen", it is the perfect series for cold, winter days.
The prints are beautiful. I didn't know about any of these engravers: thank you for sharing them. The linocuts of birds are timely, as today I was sketching some birds for the very same reason, and was wondering how to approach cutting them. They have given me some ideas.
So much changed for women with the world wars, as they were empowered by the responsibilities they picked up through national necessity. Thank you so much for highlighting this art.
Beautiful—both the wood engravings and the interplay with Austen’s story. I’m reminded of a recent exhibition at the Art Gallery of Ontario dedicated to European women artists who worked in a time when painting was impossible for many. There was a flowering of crafts, many textile-based, that could be easily put away when visitors arrived or domestic duties called.
Thank you very much, Rona. I will look up the gallery in Ontario as I didn't know anything about it and it sounds so interesting. Such crafts enabled woment to produce work that would otherwise have not been possible, and of course, textiles were part of that. So many women's work such as this would not have been seen and I feel now on a mission to discover more!
Oh lovely piece thank you - I am fascinated by Claire Leighton; her book about making a garden is so interesting (Four Hedges) written in the thirties and very entertaining … and I so wanted to find out more about her after I read it; she was living with a left wing journalist at the time and later went to America but I couldn’t find any biographies of her … I wanted to know if she went on to make more gardens … all the things I come across about her (illustrating the work of Canadian lumberjacks at one point) make me want to know so much more !
Didn't she have an extraordinary life? I love her books and have two tiny prints of hers, bought over 30 years ago, that I treasure. She writes so well too. I don't know of a biography of her, but it really should be written. Thank you, I am so glad you liked it.
I enjoy your erudite work. It's well crafted and informative, and would one day would like to upgrade to subscription. But as I am on a limited budget, I just can't at present. So fortunate to have found you. Thank you for enriching my life
What a cheering comment to receive, thank you. I am trying to keep my posts free, so please don't worry, I value your response very much.
Lovely images, Deborah, all of them.
Clare Leighton was the first engraver I ever knew of. In fact, seeing a friend’s copy of her book “The Farmer’s Year” sometime in the 1970s was how I learned that these sort of striking black and white images weren’t drawings at all.
My friend had found the book under the bed, with a pile of other left behind stuff, when she moved into her first bedsit in Liverpool. That was the only precious thing in the pile though!
Sometimes great art finds its own way to the right people. Because I’ll bet she’s still got it.
I didn't realise what an impact they had on me. I always wanted my prints to be in black and white and I feel sure now it was because of that early impression. Clare Leighton's images have such dynamism and strength. I have two tiny prints of hers: one is of broad beans and the other is of a tree being felled. The cost on the back is £8.75 and I must have had them at least 30 years. Great art does find a way to reach those who love it.
Thank you very much for reading it, as always.
Thank you for these wonderful discoveries. I have Frances Spalding's biography of Gwen Raverat waiting to be read, and I was lucky enough to see some of Elisabeth Vellacott's work in the Manor at Hemingford Grey last autumn, when Diana Boston gave us a tour of the house.
Gwen Raverat was amazing, not least for her engravings, but also her work "Period Piece". The Frances Spalding is excellent and well worth reading. I really hope to revisit the Manor again this summer as I didn't take much note of Elisabeth Vellacott's work at the time as I was so astounded at " The Children of Green Knowe" coming alive! Thank you for reading it and I am so pleased you liked it.
Greetings 🐝, another delicious delightful post that has sent me scurrying off down numerous rabbit holes! I had heard of the first four artists but not the last two. Gwen Raverat’s Period Piece is simply wonderful and the biography by Frances Spalding is fascinating. Both books are on the shelves of the Booknook. As is a slim volume of Gilbert White’s Natural History of Selborne illustrated by Clare Leighton in 1941. Possibly the prize piece of my Gilbert White collection and that’s saying something! Simon Martin’s brilliant book ‘Drawn to nature: Gilbert White and the artists’ features Gertrude Hermes and Agnes Miller Parker, who I hadn’t heard of previously to reading his book. He also mentioned a woman called Claire Oldham , another wood engraver of this period. Do you have a copy of this book? If not, I do warn you that it ‘encourages’ many more book purchases.
It was a reply that you wrote to a reader about having some Clare Leighton prints that sent me off on a search of the book book as I remembered have purchased a couple of small pieces myself, a number of years ago and then putting them away somewhere safe until I could get them framed. Luckily located and now for the wall.
I also love Jane Austen and adored P&P as a young teenager. It’s incredible to think that Gilbert White and the divine Jane lived within a view short miles from each other.
Bless you as always for your wonderful posts!
Ruth B-C xx
Oh Ruth, you have sent me scouting my shelves looking for "Drawn to Nature" as I had forgotten all about it. I finally found it! Thank you very much for the reminder and suspect it will lead me into temptation...It is such a beautiful book.
I am glad you found your prints, they really are exquisite, aren't they? I have them in my little study and they bring me great pleasure.
I love P and P, but my favourite now is Mansfield Park.
I went to Chawton and Selborne on the same day many years ago and loved both places. I especially loved the stained glass depicting his birds in the church, which is remarkable.
Thank you for your lovely message and for the distraction. Xx
The stained glass window is lovely - especially the Hoopoe! Got to love a Hoopoe! ❤️
I do love a Hoopoe! One day I might just see one!
I have both "Period Piece" and "Four Hedges" I love the intricacies of woodcuts. I was recently given The Darkening Green by Elizabeth Clarke each chapter of which is headed with woodcuts by Richard Shirley Smith. The way that you plait two differing art forms together as with these women artists and Jane Austen is brilliant.
Long Live Great Bardfield by Thirza Garwood has been on my wish list for a long while.
I saw your post and have tried to get hold of a copy of " The Darkening Green", but it is a bit out of my price range online, so I will look out for it. But I do have " The Valley" which I haven't yet read. I really want to see the exhibition by Tirzah Garwood and do hope I can make it before it closes, her work is so witty and whimsical.
A couple of new printmakers for me to research-thank you so much! And such beautiful prints. Thank you for always sharing your knowledge, and your research, I learn so much from your posts. And your beautiful bird prints sit very well within this group of wonderful women artists. x
Seeing that book, so long ago, had quite an impact! Their work is so exquisite and especially love Gertrude Hermes who is so quirky. Thank you very much, Cally x
I am enjoying your posts so much and look forward to every new one. I love learning about these women who went unsung but contributed so much. Thank you.
Thank you very much, Candace, I am so pleased! It seems there is much to discover.
Wonderful article and stunning prints. What a world to discover! I particularly like the snowdrop. I look forward to learning more about these artists. Thank you!
The work is so beautiful isn't it? Gertrude Hermes is my favourite, if I had to choose, as her work is so distinctive. What I have learned already about them has sent me off down somany rabbit holes! Thank you very much for reading it.
Wow, these images really show the range of styles possible in woodcuts. Thanks for sharing them. I love your linocut birds too.
The size of Jane Austen's table, and the idea of her having to write at it on small sheets of paper in the family room with distractions and conversations around her, emphasises her achievement. I feel quite spoilt with my computer, and selection of A5 and A4 notebooks, spread out on a big table in the spare room!
Thank you, Jacqueline, I am so pleased you enjoyed the wood engravings.
As I write, my papers are spread all about me and simply cannot imagine working on such a tiny desk. To have produced the novels she did, in such constrained circumstances, really does make her achievement all the more remarkable.
These wood cuts are so lovely, thank you. I took a semester of woodcut in college and have always wanted to get back to it. It is such a beautiful process.
I hope this has encouraged you to return to it! Thank you, Jenn.
Thank you, Deborah! Hopefully soon ☺️
Beautiful post, thank you.
Off at a tangent but still involving woodcarving and women…have you heard of the Pinwill sisters? There has been a resurgence of interest in their work down here in the SW since Helen Wilson’s book about them was published. They carved the most exquisite pews, fonts and rood screens in local churches.
I think you’d like them and their back story…they were clergy daughters.
Thank you! I have heard of them, partly as I saw Helen Wilson's book on Twitter some whole ago, but I had forgotten all about them. I shall have to look them up as I remember their work being remarkable.
We went to a talk she gave and read the book. We’re avid Pinwill Spotters now.
I enjoyed reading this. I saw Clare Leighton's Apple Picking in a magazine. I bought Clare's book 'Four Hedges', from which the image was taken. It has so many lovely images and I like the seasonal story of her garden. I am looking forward to watching the Jane Austen series. I shall watch the films you suggest too.
Thank you, Gill, it is such a beautiful image, isn't it? I loved " Four Hedges" too. I hope you enjoy " Miss Austen", it is the perfect series for cold, winter days.
The prints are beautiful. I didn't know about any of these engravers: thank you for sharing them. The linocuts of birds are timely, as today I was sketching some birds for the very same reason, and was wondering how to approach cutting them. They have given me some ideas.
Thank you, Jenna. Good lucks with the birds and I do hope you enjoy making them!
Such a gorgeous post … brimful of beautiful writing and sumptuous art, as much a social history as an exploration of these amazingly talented women.
Thank you very much. I love the work of these artists and how they was a sudden flowering of their talent between the wars.
So much changed for women with the world wars, as they were empowered by the responsibilities they picked up through national necessity. Thank you so much for highlighting this art.