The Union of Women Painters and Sculptors (, or UFPS) was founded in 1881 in Paris as a society for the promotion of female artists. The Union was founded by sculptor and educator

Hélène Bertaux Hélène Bertaux (), born Joséphine Charlotte Hélène Pilate (4 July 1825 – 20 April 1909) was a French sculptor and women's rights advocate. Early life and career She was born in Paris and began her studies at the age of twelve with ...

(Mme. Leon Bertaux) and had as many as 450 members at its peak. Noted members include

Virginie Demont-Breton Virginie Élodie Marie Thérèse Demont-Breton (26 July 1859, Courrières – 10 January 1935, Paris) was a French painter. Biography Her father Jules Breton and her uncle Émile Breton were both well-known painters. Through her father she ...

, who became president after Bertaux in 1894, and artist

Marie Bashkirtseff Marie Bashkirtseff (born Mariya Konstantinovna Bashkirtseva, russian: Мария Константиновна Башки́рцева; 1858–1884) was a Ukrainian artist from the Russian Empire who worked in Paris, France. She died aged 25. Li ...

. Opportunities for women within the Parisian art world in the 19th century were limited. The influential

École des Beaux-Arts École des Beaux-Arts (; ) refers to a number of influential art schools in France. The term is associated with the Beaux-Arts style in architecture and city planning that thrived in France and other countries during the late nineteenth century ...

did not begin admitting women until 1896. The first female student admitted to

Beaux-Arts de Paris The Beaux-Arts de Paris is a French ''grande école'' whose primary mission is to provide high-level arts education and training. This is classical and historical School of Fine Arts in France. The art school, which is part of the Paris Sciences ...

was artist

Fanny Rozet Fanny Rozet (1881–1958; née Stéphanie Amélie Mismaque), was a French sculptor. She was known for her Art Deco sculptures, decorative objects, and lamps. She was the first female student to attend Beaux-Arts de Paris, L’École Nationale Sup� ...

, who was able to attend the school in 1896 after the UFPS demanded her allowance. Prior to 1896, the only state-sponsored option for women’s art education was the National School of Drawing for Young Women (''

École Nationale de Dessin pour les Jeune Filles École may refer to: * an elementary school in the French educational stages normally followed by secondary education establishments (collège and lycée) * École (river), a tributary of the Seine flowing in région Île-de-France * École, Savoi ...

''), which received less funding than men’s schools. Additionally, women were prohibited from joining many other existing exhibition groups, schools, and public art spaces. The Union’s goals were to create a community to educate and support female artists and by displaying their work. They published the ''Journal des femmes'' ''artistes'' newsletter, where members of the Union could communicate and comment. They also founded and organized the annual Salon des Femmes as an exhibition of women’s art exclusively. The Salon was intended to be a non-traditional and non-hierarchical exhibition, including decorative arts and giving new and established artists equal access to preferred hanging spaces. The first

Salon des Femmes Salon may refer to: Common meanings * Beauty salon, a venue for cosmetic treatments * French term for a drawing room, an architectural space in a home * Salon (gathering), a meeting for learning or enjoyment Arts and entertainment * Salon (Pa ...

occurred in January 1882, and the Union continued to organize and publicize the event eachyear. At the 1896 Salon des Femmes, 295 women exhibited their work. In addition to these efforts, members of the Union, especially Bertaux, campaigned for women’s entry into the Ecole des Beaux-Arts and for their eligibility to compete for the

Prix de Rome The Prix de Rome () or Grand Prix de Rome was a French scholarship for arts students, initially for painters and sculptors, that was established in 1663 during the reign of Louis XIV of France. Winners were awarded a bursary that allowed them t ...

art prize.

References

{{Authority control Art societies Women and the arts