Reviewed by Wendy Lipke
Lesley Harding’s latest book provides the reader with information about an Australian female artist, who, had she been born male, it has been said, would have enjoyed a public reputation as great as Dobell, Drysdale or Nolan. The Introduction to this work begins with the words, ‘No account of Modernism in Australia is complete without due acknowledgement of Margaret Preston’s contributions and originality’ (xi).
This tale provides information about the life and achievements of this colourful and outspoken personality with a deep sense of civic duty. As well as an artist of renown she was also a generous and insightful teacher who chose the more domestic genre of the still life for her art. Much of her work was produced, not in a studio but in the kitchen where she also loved to cook.
The inspiration for this book was Margaret Preston’s hand-written recipe book which is housed in the National Gallery of Australia. Although the main text is about the artist’s life and work, this information is broken up by recipes, black and white photographs and photos of her art work. The foods mentioned are typical of the early 20th Century and also include hand-written tips such as what should be provided when guests come to dinner, information about the type of saucepans to buy and how they should be cared for and don’ts for those who make salads.
The cover of the book is of a mustard colour as are the introductory pages to each chapter. There are eight of these with names like Beginnings, Crafts that Aid, Art begins at Home and Recipes for Art. The chapter about the gentle art of flower arranging, while containing information about the artist, illustrations of her work and recipes, also includes a double page spread illustrating the skill. The front and back covers have a fold out piece which provide information of a general nature about the artist and on the back cover, the author.
The artist, Margaret Preston, wrote many ‘how to’ articles dispelling the idea that art was an elitist or leisured activity and suggesting that art had a civilizing effect for the maker and in the home, as it provided self and social improvement.
Although she appeared gifted at an early age, she was fortunate in her teachers who inspired her with many enlightened ideas. These and her wide travel to various parts of the world would greatly influence her art. Although in many ways her art was ahead of its time. She embraced many disciplinary practices while always advancing the course of women’s art and crafts and embracing Aboriginal art well before its wider appreciation in the late 1960s and 70s.
She was always looking for ways to promote herself and her art in a time when her type of art was considered a feminine pursuit and a lesser art (16). Her friendship with the publisher Sydney Ure Smith helped this promotion when they collaborated in producing several publications of Art in Australia and many of her pieces were presented on the cover of other publications.
During her life she taught at several Private Girl Schools and was prolific in writing articles for varied publications. At all times she pointed to the common citizenship of all forms of creative work and their interdependence in the modern world. She wanted to reintegrate the artist into the everyday reality (115).
The final sixteen pages of this work contain the information one would expect from an academic work.
This is a book that can be appreciated on many levels. There is the information about a successful female artist at a time when women were not appreciated for their skills. There are the recipes and the hints and there are the art pieces that can be appreciated. Left out on a coffee table this book can provide entertainment over a long period of time.
Margaret Preston
(2026)
by Lesley Harding
The Miegunyah Press
ISBN:978-0-522-881185-1
$45.00;256pp