Organized as a companion to Helen McNicoll: An Impressionist Journey, this exhibition highlights the work of women artists who, like McNicoll, were at the forefront of Canadian art in the early 1900s.
Drawn entirely from the Art Gallery of Hamilton’s permanent collection, this selection highlights the work of some of Canada’s most ambitious modern artists. Among the first generation of professionally-trained artists, they adopted modern styles of painting, bringing new artistic approaches to Canada, including Impressionism and Post-Impressionism.
Her Too: Contemporaries of Helen McNicoll includes works by Harriet Ford, Laura Muntz Lyall, Florence Carlyle, and Florence McGillivray. They represent the first wave of women artists to travel abroad for study and exhibition and paved the way for future generations. Each of their journeys was as unique as their artistic practice. While all embraced international trends in their work, their paths differed. Some returned to establish careers in Canada, others taught the next generation of artists, and some remained largely abroad.
Notably, many of the artists featured have strong ties to Hamilton and the surrounding region, having been born, lived, or studied here. These include Ottilie Palm Jost, Marion Mattice, Laura Muntz Lyall, Hortense Gordon, and Grace Coombs.
