The Artists' Suffrage League (ASL) (1907–c.1918) was a

suffrage Suffrage, political franchise, or simply franchise, is the right to vote in representative democracy, public, political elections and referendums (although the term is sometimes used for any right to vote). In some languages, and occasionally i ...

society formed to change parliamentary opinion and engage in public demonstrations and other propaganda activities.

Activities

The ASL was established in Jan 1907 to assist with the preparations for the Mud March organised by the

National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies The National Union of Women Suffrage Societies (NUWSS), also known as the ''suffragists'' (not to be confused with the suffragettes) was an organisation founded in 1897 of women's suffrage societies around the United Kingdom. In 1919 it was ren ...

in February 1907.

Mary Lowndes Mary Lowndes (1857–1929) was a British stained-glass artist who co-founded the stained glass studio and workshop Lowndes and Drury in 1897. She was an influential leader in the Arts and Crafts movement, not only for her stained glass work a ...

was a founder member in 1907 and its chairman in 1913. Other than the central committee of chair, vice-chair and treasurer, the organisation had no traditional formal structure or statement of aims. Lowndes' home, the Brittany Studios at 259 King's Road in Chelsea was used as the studio for the group of professional women artists who formed the ASL. The ASL produced posters and postcards and designed and produced around 80 embroidered banners for the Mud March in 1908. In 1913 the ASL was supplying posters to women's suffrage groups in America. Lowndes and the league moved to 27 Trafalgar Square in Chelsea in 1917. The body was responsible for the creation of a large number of posters, Christmas cards, postcards and banners designed by artists who included the chair

, Emily Ford, Barbara Forbes, May H Barker, Clara Billing,

Dora Meeson Dora Meeson (1869–1955) was an Australian artist and an elected member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters in London, England. She was a member of the British Artists' Suffrage League. She was married to fellow artist George James Coates on ...

Coates, Violet Garrard,

Bertha Newcombe Bertha Newcombe (17 February 1857 – 11 June 1947) was an English artist and suffrage activist. The fourth of seven children of an entrepreneurial father with an interest in education and art, she grew up mainly in Surrey. Aged 19, she entere ...

, C Hedley Charlton and

Emily J. Harding Emily Jane Harding Andrews (1850–1940) was a British artist, illustrator and suffragette. She was a member of the Artists' Suffrage League. Early life Harding was born in 1850 in Bristol, England. She studied at Clifton Ladies' College and th ...

. The ASL was responsible for the decoration of the

Queens Hall The Queen's Hall was a concert hall in Langham Place, London, opened in 1893. Designed by the architect Thomas Knightley, it had room for an audience of about 2,500 people. It became London's principal concert venue. From 1895 until 1941, it ...

for the celebrations in 1918 that had been organised by the NUWSS.

Art works

The artist

Duncan Grant Duncan James Corrowr Grant (21 January 1885 – 8 May 1978) was a British painter and designer of textiles, pottery, theatre sets and costumes. He was a member of the Bloomsbury Group. His father was Bartle Grant, a "poverty-stricken" major ...

, whose aunt, Lady Strachey was a member of the

, entered the ASL poster and postcard competition in 1907. Although not a prize winner, he was encouraged to enter the ASL’s 1909 competition for a poster that was "suitable for use at elections". ASL member Barbara Forbes suggested "a man in a sailing boat (the sail represents the Vote). A woman with only oars - out in the sea of Labour". Grant was awarded the first prize, four pounds, for a poster depicting a woman heading towards the

Parliament of the United Kingdom The Parliament of the United Kingdom is the supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories. It meets at the Palace of Westminster, London. It alone possesses legislative suprema ...

rowing a boat in heavy seas, while a man in a sailing boat effortlessly passes her on a high wave. Grant added the caption "Britons, why handicap the weaker vessel?", which was shortened to "Handicapped!" in the poster published by the ASL. It became one of the ASL's most striking posters.

Membership

Notable members

Mary Sergeant Florence Mary may refer to: People * Mary (name), a feminine given name (includes a list of people with the name) Religious contexts * New Testament people named Mary, overview article linking to many of those below * Mary, mother of Jesus, also calle ...

Caroline Watts Caroline Marsh Watts (1868–1919) was a British painter. She was born in Handsworth, now part of Birmingham, and died at Colehill in Dorset. Life Caroline Watts was the youngest child of Robert Watts. He manufactured buttons in Handsworth ...

References

External links