Overview
While it is a cliché to say, “a picture is worth a thousand words,” this common saying exists for a reason. Of these two women, the works of one changed the way women’s rights advocates were perceived, and those of the other began blurring the boundaries between crafts and art.
Nina Allender (1873-1957)
Allender was the official political cartoonist for the National Woman’s Party. Her drawings often featured the “Allender girl” as pictured here – a stylish, self-assured, and attractive young woman who was also dedicated to the cause. Her portrayals helped shift public opinion as to what a woman’s rights advocate looked like. In total, Allender created over 150 cartoons between 1914 and 1927 supporting suffrage and women’s rights.
Marguerite Zorach (1887-1968)
An early proponent and practitioner of modern art, Zorach served as the first president of the New York Society of Women Artists. Originally a painter, she switched to mainly producing textile art after her daughter was born in order to spend more time with her children. These pieces broke down the barriers between crafts – mainly produced by women – and fine art; while panned by critics at the time, they proved extremely popular with the public.
