Going Places

Hawthorne Fine Art presents historic works by women artist travelers of the early 20th century

September 13-November 1

Hawthorne Fine Art
12 East 86th Street
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By the turn of the 20th century, women had become more visible in the public sphere, including the workforce, politics and art. But while cultural attitudes toward womanhood were starting to change, it was not without strong resistance for much of the remaining century. So, while opportunities were beginning to open up for women and international travel was becoming more accessible, it still took a strong and determined woman to defend and exercise her right to freedom.

Martha Wood Belcher (1844-1930), The Fountain at Amalfi, Italy, 1921. Oil on canvas mounted on board, 10 x 12 in. Signed lower right; titled and inscribed with artist’s name and studio address verso; original exhibition label verso.

More than a dozen of such women and upward of 30 works are featured in Going Places: Women Artist Travelers of the Early 20th Century, an upcoming online exhibition and sale presented by Hawthorne Fine Art. The featured paintings take viewers on a journey through Europe and the far reaches of Africa as seen through the eyes and brushes of these historic female artists.

Helen M. Goodwin (1865-1955), Market Street Scene. Oil on board, 10¾ x 6¼ in. Signed lower right.

The collection is comprised of both new acquisitions and rarely before seen work by intrepid artists that include Ohio native, Alice Lolita Muth (1887-1952) who documented her time living in the countryside of France and Spain, and her eventual home in North Africa. A major work newly acquired by Hawthorne Fine Art by American impressionist Martha Walter (1875-1976) depicts women and children returning from a day of labor in an Italian hill town. Historic European landmarks are featured in several works by Anna Mary Richards Brewster (1870-1952) and in an Italy-inspired watercolor by Mary Lane McMillan (1883-1976).

Alice Muth (1887-1952), Mountain Landscape. Oil on canvas, 45 x 47 in. Signed lower right.

The impressive works in the collection go on to include bustling street and market scenes by Jene Peterson (1876-1965), Helen M. Goodwin (1865-1955) and Martha Wood Belcher (1844-1930) alongside pieces by Mary Cumming Browne (1861-1939), Pauline Palmer (1867-1938), Edith V. Cockcroft (1881-1962), Ruth Anderson (1891-1957), Theresa Bernstein (1890-2002) and Florence Robinson (1874-1937).

These historic American artists shared parallels that went beyond their adventurous spirit. While not concurrently, Anderson, Belcher, Walter, Cockcroft and McMillan were all students of William Merritt Chase. Anderson and Walter also both attended the Pennsylvania Academy and were recipients of the prestigious Cresson Traveling Scholarship.

Edith V. Cockcroft (1881-1962), From My Window, Concarneau. Oil on canvas, 30 x 40 in. Signed lower right.

Anderson, Bernstein, Walter and Peterson frequented the Gloucester artist colony and also exhibited together. In 1917, Walter and Bernstein participated in the annual exhibition of the National Association of Women Painters and Sculptors show. The same year, Bernstein and Anderson exhibited at the National Academy of Design while Walter and Peterson exhibited together in a traveling exhibition entitled Paintings by Six American Women.

Alice Lolita Muth (1887-1952), Portrait d’un Tunisien Oil on wood, 171/₁₆ x 14¼ in. Signed lower right.

“These women forged successful art careers despite the challenges faced by women artists of the day,” says Hawthorne Fine Art research associate, Megan Bongiovanni. “Martha Walter traveled extensively and supported herself through sales of her artwork and teaching. Martha Belcher helped support her family through sales of her paintings. Pauline Palmer was the first woman president of the Chicago Society of Artists. Maren Froelich was one of the first women to exhibit at the Bohemian Club. Anna Mary Richards Brewster founded the Scarsdale Artist Society. Edith Cockcroft was a founding member of the New York Society of Women Artists. Collectively, these women paved the way for the next generation of women artists.”

Jane Peterson (1876-1965), Street Scene in Biskra, ca. 1910. Oil on canvas, unlined, 18 x 24 in. Signed lower right: Jane Peterson.

Individually, and even more so together, these remarkable artists and women offer a nuanced picture of early 20th century culture through works that illuminate the beauty they saw in the world around them despite difficult circumstances, and provide a unique opportunity to be awed by the art itself and the intrepid women who created it. The online exhibition and sale, Going Places: Women Artist Travelers of the Early 20th Century, will run from September 13 through November 1. To access and download a digital copy of the catalogue, visit www.hawthornefineart.com/catalogues.