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Smelling the Flowers: Why do women paint domestic scenes?

This activity relates to Level 5, National Profiles, The Arts.

Nora Heysen’s career has spanned more than 60 years. In this time her subjects have changed and evolved, but there are two great loves she has returned to again and again. These are the figure in the landscape and still-lifes including flowers, fruit and domestic scenes.

Margaret Preston is one of Australia’s better known early female artists. Her work is still fresh and vibrant today more than 35 years after her death. Her subject matter varied greatly, but she too returned to still-lifes, flowers and landscapes for her inspiration.

Practical work

Direct students to look through the National Library, Nora Heysen on-line exhibition. Ask them to discuss her inspiration and the subject matter for each image.

Research Margaret Preston (or another female, early Australian artist of your choice). Ask students to discuss her subject matter and inspiration.

Essay question

Traditionally, women have tended to paint domestic scenes. Do you think this is a fair comment? Why?

Discuss this question with reference to the role of women in society last century. Try to discover what levels of respect and acknowledgment female artists were given in the late 1800s and the early half of the 1900s. Discuss the effects of marriage and motherhood on a woman’s career at this time.

Extension material

Discuss with students whether or not they think these attitudes have changed. This ties in well with any discussion on feminism or the changing roles of women in society.

Level 5, National Profiles, The Arts

This suggested activity relates to Level 5 of the National Profiles, The Arts.

A student

  • Uses starting points such as observation, personal experience and research to express ideas and feelings
  • Makes visual art works by organising the elements and using appropriate processes, skills, and techniques
  • Analyses the works of artists by referring to and describing specific features, effects and techniques and using descriptive language and terminology to support this analysis
  • Discusses and understands the characteristics of visual art works made within a particular culture and in a particular historical period, and uses this knowledge in art activities