The Story of the Headhunters

Collections & Objects   Exhibitions   Great North Museum: Hancock
Posted by administrator on April 23, 2020     Permalink     Leave a comment

Last month, we looked at the remarkable Samurai armour that went on display for the Other Worlds: Art of Atomhawk exhibition. Today, I’m going to be investigating another object from this exhibition as well as two others from the World Cultures gallery. They’re three very different, beautiful pieces of material culture from three distinct groups of people in Asia, but they all have one thing in common: each object was made by  a group of people who practised headhunting.

Headhunting is the custom of taking and preserving a human head after killing the person. While this may seem a gruesome action to many of us today, headhunting has been practised by many different peoples throughout history. It has been the subject of various studies, where scholars have tried to interpret its role within societies. What has often been found is that headhunting had ritual and ceremony as its core functions, themes of which we’re about to explore.

Firstly, let’s go back to the Atomhawk exhibition to see one of the objects on display- a ceremonial hat from the Naga people. 

NEWHM : D193 – Naga hat, Atomhawk exhibition

These hats are extremely eye catching, often embellished with boar tusks, feathers and goat hair to evoke the power and courage of the animals in their environment.

NEWHM : D194, NEWHM : D196, NEWHM : D365 – Naga hats, GNM : Hancock

Location of the Naga peoples, north-eastern India/north-western Myanmar

The Naga are a group of peoples who live in north-eastern India and north-western Myanmar, and they were well known for headhunting. They didn’t take heads merely to wage war though- the Naga believed that human skulls possessed a life force that could ensure the prosperity of a tribal clan and their crops and animals.  According to Naga belief, the human soul is divided into two- the mio (spiritual aspect) and the yaha (the animated aspect).  When a Naga person dies, it was thought that the yaha goes on to the land of the dead but the mio remains in the village. It was this mio that led to the property and fertility of a village.  The Naga people believed that the mio resided in the head, and so by taking a head the “spirit reservoir” of their village would be topped up.  A successful headhunt by a Naga man wouldn’t just bring success to his village.  The man himself would also acquire significant prestige and even make him a suitable husband.

During the 20th century, most of the Naga people converted to Christianity and the ritual of headhunting became obsolete.  Along with Christian celebrations, many different tribal festivals are still celebrated. It’s during these gatherings that the traditional dress of the Naga people is often worn including the vibrant red headgear.

The Naga people today wearing the ceremonial warrior’s hat

The Naga people had a definite spiritual dimension to their headhunting, but there was also a certain element of prestige attached to the act of taking a head, and for a young Naga man it may well have been an important rite of passage.  It appears to be a similar story for the people of Nias Island.

Nias Island, off the coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia

On display in the World Cultures gallery is a large wooden shield that was made by the Nias people. Known as a baluse, it has a large imposing size and a shape that was said to allude to a head of a crocodile – an animal that would instil both fear and awe.

NEWHM : D479 – Baluse shield, GNM: Hancock

The baluse would have been used both for ritual performances and for battle. Centuries ago, the people of Nias lived in a state of conflict, either defending themselves against slave raiders or engaging in inter-tribal warfare. Young men were brought up to become fierce warriors. Alongside warfare, headhunting was also prevalent in Nias society. The act of taking a head was very important and symbolic for the islanders.  A young warrior would need to bring a head back to the village before being allowed to marry or sit in on the village council. The more heads a warrior took in battle, the higher his status in Nias society became. And like the Naga, the people of Nias believed that captured heads would bring protective forces to the village.

This theme of community safeguarding can be seen in the headhunting activities of a third group of people, the Ibans of Borneo.

Location of the Iban people, Sarawak, Borneo

At first glance, the beautiful kenyalang on display in the World Cultures gallery would not suggest any links with headhunting. Kenyalang are carvings of rhinoceros hornbills, a large bird that could be found in the rainforests of Borneo.

  • NEWHM : D723 – kenyalang figure
  • A Rhinoceras Hornbill

They were created and carved by the Iban people, who like the Naga and Nias peoples, used to practise headhunting. The kenyalang would be used in special ceremonies that called upon supernatural entities for help to ensure success during a future raid. Hornbill carvings like the one on display in the GNM would be mounted on top of a tree trunk and pointed towards an enemy.  The spirit of the hornbill would be encouraged by the Iban to fly over and enter the spiritual domain of the targeted community and destroy its will. It was literally a threatening notice to a specific enemy. The effigy of a rhinoceros hornbill was used as this bird was a powerful flyer within the rainforest. The act of taking a head for the Iban came with a heavy responsibility. They believed that the soul of the head would watch over the household that it graced. The Iban also believed that the spiritual power that came from the head was directly related to the character of the man it was taken from , and so only the heads of enemy warriors were taken in battle.

So there we have it.  Three different objects, but some of the stories that lie within them are all about headhunting. The collection of human heads for these peoples were not merely seen as trophies or spoils of war. It is evident that the practise was incorporated into a system of complex beliefs associated with spiritual power and protection and was often an important rite of passage for young men. The rise of Christianity in Asia and the conversion of many of the Naga, Nias and Iban peoples meant that headhunting declined and finally ended in the 20th century. However, as we can see, their stories can still be found within some of the objects on display in the GNM.

John Collingwood Bruce – A Victorian Champion of Hadrian’s Wall and more…

Archaeology   Collections & Objects   Great North Museum: Hancock   Local History
Posted by administrator on April 21, 2020     Permalink     Leave a comment

In my role as Librarian at the Great North Museum: Hancock Library I regularly come across the name of John Collingwood Bruce (1805 – 1892). I decided to investigate his story, which provides a fascinating tale of a Newcastle man whose life spanned the majority of the 19th century. This is what I found.  

Bruce played a pivotal role in popularising the study and appreciation of Hadrian’s Wall. He did this by producing a series of books on the subject that are still in print and establishing a series of Pilgrimages to the Wall that continue to take place every ten years, the most recent occurring in 2019.    

Portrait of John Collingwood Bruce

He was the eldest son of John Bruce of Newcastle and was educated at St. Percy Street Academy, a school in Newcastle kept by his father. He graduated as an M.A. from Glasgow University in 1826. In early life he studied to be a Presbyterian minister, but instead decided to assist in the management of his father’s school of which he became sole proprietor in 1834. He developed a lifelong, passionate interest in history which dated from his childhood and he joined the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle Upon Tyne in 1846 when he was 39.  He published a “Guide to the Castle of Newcastle Upon Tyne” in 1847.  

In 1848 Bruce had planned to visit Rome, but because of the political situation in that area he was unable to do this. Instead he decided to visit the more local Roman Wall. He was accompanied by his son Gainford, who was 14, and Charles and Henry Burdon Richardson, the latter the drawing master at his school. Henry was allocated the task of recording images of the Wall and he produced almost fifty sketches that were subsequently worked up into paintings.   

Drawing of the Roman Wall at Brunton

During November and December of 1848 Bruce volunteered to deliver a series of lectures based on his experiences of the journey along the Wall. These took place at the Newcastle Literary and Philosophical Society. Using the skills that he had developed as a teacher he included examples of actual stones from the Wall to provide evidence for his arguments. He also made available some of Richardson’s paintings to illustrate the lectures. The series proved to be a great success and galvanized local interest in the study of the Wall. In order to harness this enthusiasm Bruce invited participants to take part in the first Pilgrimage to the Wall to experience first-hand this remarkable historic monument. This event took place between 25 June – 3 July 1849, with a core of 24 participants that included just three women. The second Pilgrimage did not take place until 1886, but in total this event has now been organised thirteen times, latterly every ten years.  The most recent Pilgrimage took place in 2019 and was attended by more than 200 “pilgrims.”

Invitation to the First Pilgrimage

Bruce’s lectures formed the basis for his major work “The Roman Wall” which was published in 1851 and covered all aspects of the Wall in great detail.  Bruce was not a trained archaeologist, but rather an interpreter of other people’s work, for example the local historians John Horsley and John Hodgson. He also incorporated the results of recent survey work at the Wall by Henry MacLaughlan, who was funded by the Duke of Northumberland.  

As an interpreter Bruce had the advantage of being both a schoolteacher and a minister of religion. This enabled him to organise and present facts effectively and convince his readers of his point of view. The book was 472 pages long with numerous plates and illustrations taken from original Roman artefacts. It also included many lithographs of the contemporary state of specific locations which were the work of the previously mentioned Henry Burdon Richardson. The work was published on a subscription basis with many noted individuals providing their support, including the Duke of Northumberland.  The “Roman Wall” was well received both locally and nationally and served a key role in filling a gap in providing a comprehensive account of the Wall and simultaneously raising awareness of this historical landmark.   

Roman Wall Subscribers

The requirement for a publication about the Wall that was more portable and compact than the large and weighty 1851 publication was another challenge that was addressed by Bruce in his “Wallet Book of the Roman Wall” which was published in 1863. This provided a pocket-sized volume that a visitor could carry along the Wall to enhance and enrich their experience. Subsequent updates to this work were titled “Handbook to the Roman Wall” and this is still in print today, in its thirteenth edition.  Many noted experts on Roman Britain have edited the work including David Breeze, who was responsible for the most recent edition.  

A lesser known aspect of Bruce’s life is his interest in Norman history and especially the Bayeux Tapestry. In July of 1851 during a short trip to Normandy Bruce conceived the idea of delivering some lectures on the Tapestry to the Newcastle Literary and Philosophical Society. He also decided that these should be illustrated by a full-size coloured facsimile of the Tapestry and the task of producing this fell to Bruce’s pupils at the Percy Street Academy. The work was drawn in pen and ink and coloured with watercolour on sheets of paper measuring 650mm high by 975mm wide, slightly larger than the original. The total length of the reproduction was between 75 and 80 metres.  

Bruce subsequently delivered the lectures in January and February of 1853 with sections of the facsimile on display. A boy held a pointer to indicate features, while Bruce spoke.  

The lectures formed the basis of Bruce’s book “The Bayeux Tapestry Elucidated” published in 1855, with 17 coloured plates.

Image from The Bayeux Tapestry Elucidated

The facsimile was exhibited in various parts of the country, and even in Le Havre in Normandy. It still exists today in storage as part of the Library of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne, though now in poor condition. 

As a result of his publications, lectures, teaching and membership of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Bruce had established himself as a fondly regarded and respected member of not only academia, but also the wider local community. One example of this status is that he was used as a model for a figure in the oil painting “Building of the Roman Wall”, one of a famous series of paintings that are still displayed in the central hall at Wallington Hall. The well-known artist and poet William Bell Scott (1811 – 1890) who produced the image stated that “The only portrait here is that of Dr Bruce, the historian of the Wall who gave me a setting for the profile near the middle of the picture, of one of the labourers on the Wall.”

The figure modelled on Bruce is shown glancing at the attacking Caledonian’s while engaged in the vital work of building the Wall. This is surely a fitting and historic reward for Bruce’s tireless work on researching and promoting the Roman Wall.  

Building of The Roman Wall Painting at Wallington

After a long, productive and celebrated life John Collingwood Bruce died after a brief illness on 5 April 1892. His funeral procession which was attended by the great and the good of the North East stretched for over a mile, from the Great North Road to Jesmond Old Cemetery where he was buried. As a permanent memorial a sculptured marble sarcophagus within St Nicholas’s Cathedral in Newcastle shows the carved figure of Bruce lying with his feet on a copy of his book on the Roman Wall.  

A fitting and well-deserved tribute indeed to a remarkable man.  

If you are interested in finding out more about Bruce, a wonderful collection of the books and articles produced by him can be found in the Library of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle Upon Tyne. This is located in the Great North Museum: Hancock Library which is free for all to use, although temporarily closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Further information can be found at https://greatnorthmuseum.org.uk/collections/library-and-archive 

I am grateful for the assistance to Howard Cleeve, of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle Upon Tyne, for his support in the production of this article, especially by providing his photographs of text from editions of the “Courant”.   

As a charity, Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums rely on donations to provide the amazing service that we do and our closure, whilst necessary, has significantly impacted our income. Please, if you are able, help us through this difficult period by donating by text today. Text TWAM 3 to give £3, TWAM 5 to give £5 or TWAM 10 to give £10 to 70085. Texts cost your donation plus one standard message rate. Thank you.

John James Audubon and his Elephant visit the North of England in 1827

Books   Collections & Objects   Great North Museum: Hancock   Local History   Natural Sciences
Posted by administrator on April 16, 2020     Permalink     Leave a comment

In the spring of 1827, an event took place in the north east of England that was a landmark in the related worlds of art and natural history. At this time the charismatic and larger than life wildlife artist and publisher John James Audubon was on a tour of the United Kingdom in order to raise subscriptions for his planned magnum opus “The Birds of America.” Newcastle and its surrounding area were one of his ports of call. 

Audubon was a self-taught artist and naturalist with a passionate interest in birds. For the last twenty years he had devoted his life to searching for and painting every species he could find in America. His ambition was to publish a lavishly illustrated book that would encompass this work, which ultimately achieved a status as the greatest of all bird-books and would become one of the most valuable books ever published.   

His plan was to produce a work funded on a subscription basis that would ultimately incorporate 435 hand coloured life size prints of birds measuring around 39 by 26 inches. This size is known as a double elephant folio. The book ultimately included a number of birds that have subsequently become extinct, including the passenger pigeon. In contrast to the prevailing stilted style of bird illustration his prints attempted to convey the movement, motion and physicality of his subjects, which he succeeded in doing with great verve and accomplishment.       

Subscribers were required to pay the large total sum of around $1000 for which they would obtain five prints at a time between the years of 1827 – 1838, They would receive five copper-engraved prints at a time consisting of three smaller birds, a larger bird and a mid-sized bird. It is thought that no more than 120 complete sets exist today. The book was originally published in Edinburgh and London. Audubon undertook an extended tour of Britain and Europe in order to attract the required number of subscribers, having failed to do this in America. He was the consummate showman at events, often targeted at scientific institutes, where he would display his original watercolours. He played up to the established image of an American backwoodsman, with his long flowing hair oiled with bear grease, luxuriant beard and a magnificent bear skin coat.  

One of the individuals who subscribed to Audubon’s work was Henry Witham of Durham, a landowner remembered as an amateur palaeontologist and mineralogist. The copy that he originally owned was sold at Sotheby’s in 2010 for £7.3 million pounds.  

One of Audubon’s heroes was Thomas Bewick (1753 – 1828), the famous naturalist and wood engraver who at the age of 73 was reaching the end of his long and illustrious life. While Audubon was in Newcastle in April 1827 two meetings took place between the two men. 

The artistic methods of the two were utterly different. Bewick avidly avoided the killing of birds for his works while Audubon shot them by the hundred. Also while Audubon insisted on elephantine proportions for his books, Bewick wrought in miniature. His woodblocks were inches in dimension but packed with intricate detail. 

The two artists got along famously during their brief time together and Bewick “expressed himself as perfectly astounded” at the boldness of Audubon’s undertaking. Audubon in his turn appreciated Bewick’s consummate engraving skills and his deep love of the natural world.  

The friendship had developed into a powerful bond. As Audubon recalled in his journal  

“As we parted, he held my hand closely and repeated three times “God preserve you.”  I looked at him in such a manner that I am sure he understood I could not speak.” 

Audubon later named the Bewick’s Wren in honour of his old friend, a bird whose dimensions matched those of the engraver’s wood blocks.  

Bewick did not become a subscriber to Audubon’s work, perhaps fearing that he  would not live to see it completed. He did however put down his own name on behalf of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle Upon Tyne, but the learned society did not think it proper to ratify the contract. In retrospect a rather expensive error of judgement. 

While he was in the North East Audubon was also invited to visit the noted naturalist and ornithological illustrator Prideaux John Selby (1788 – 1867) at his home, Twizzell House, in Northumberland.  Selby corresponded with Bewick on the subject of ornithological etching.  

Selby had first met Audubon in Edinburgh where the American had demonstrated his artistic techniques to him. Selby was at that time engaged in producing his own noted two volume work “Illustrations of British Ornithology.” Selby’s book also utilised large format paper, though not on the scale of Audubon’s double elephant. It contains many striking images of land and water birds and though it has not achieved the fame of Audubon’s work it remains a considerable ornithological achievement.  

Audubon was warmly received at Twizzell and greatly enjoyed his stay, he included a delightful description of his visit in his journal. 

“At half past four, the coach stopped outside the lodge of Twizzell House. I left my baggage in the care of the woman at the lodge, and proceeded through some small woods towards the house…a fine house commanding an extensive view of the country, the German Ocean (the North Sea) and Bamburgh Castle” 

He gave drawing lessons to Mrs Selby, who he noted “drew fully as well as I did, and is now imitating my style” 

Selby took out a subscription to Audubon’s work, but was to cancel it in 1832 because of issues with the quality of the prints he was receiving. 

After leaving the North East, Audubon did not return to this area, and continued with the gargantuan task of completing and publishing his monumental work, which took a huge toll on his health and wellbeing. His efforts were not in vain however as his “Birds of America” has now achieved legendary status and is considered to be one of the most charismatic and groundbreaking works of natural history ever published.  

It is unfortunate that there is not a copy of this book available in the North East. However the Natural History Society of Northumbria (NHSN) Library, located in the Great North Museum: Hancock Library, has a high quality reproduction, and also other items produced by Audubon. It also has a comprehensive collection of first editions of the works of Thomas Bewick, and also an original copy of Selby’s “Illustrations of British Ornithology”. The library is free to use for all. We hope it will reopen for visitors soon. 

The NHSN was established in 1829, only two years after Audubon visited Bewick and Selby.  

As a charity, Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums rely on donations to provide the amazing service that we do and our closure, whilst necessary, has significantly impacted our income. Please, if you are able, help us through this difficult period by donating by text today. Text TWAM 3 to give £3, TWAM 5 to give £5 or TWAM 10 to give £10 to 70085. Texts cost your donation plus one standard message rate. Thank you.

My visit to Iraq, 2019, by Andrew Parkin, keeper of archaeology

Ancient History   Archaeology   Great North Museum: Hancock   Travel
Posted by administrator on April 15, 2020     Permalink     Leave a comment

With the temporary closure of the Great North Museum: Hancock due to Covid-19, visitors cannot physically access our current exhibition Ancient Iraq: new discoveries, which highlights some amazing archaeological stories from that country. 

Statue of King Gudea; dolerite; Tello, Iraq; 2130BC © The Trustees of the British Museum. This object features in the exhibition Ancient Iraq: new discoveries.

As a museum curator I was lucky enough to visit Iraq in January 2019 as the guest of several Iraqi universities who were interested in the work the Great North Museum does to bring its archaeological collections to life for school children.  I delivered presentations and visited a number of universities in the south of Iraq, including Babylon, Wasit and Kufa. At the same time I was able to see some key archaeological sites as well as enjoying Iraqi hospitality.  I thought I would share some of my photographs from that trip as a way of bringing Iraq’s wonderful archaeological heritage to light while our exhibition is inaccessible. 

Representing the Great North Museum at a conference hosted by Wasit University in the city of Kut.

Conference delegates at Wasit University.

One of the most famous archaeological sites in Iraq, which I was fortunate enough to visit, is Bablyon. It was an urban centre that came to prominence during the reign of Hammurabi (about 1792 – 1750 BC) and went on to become one of the major powers in the region.   

Reconstruction of the Ishtar Gate at Babylon.

The original Ishtar Gate was built by the Babylonian King Nebuchadnnezar II in about 575 BC.  This reconstruction is about half the size of the original gate and was constructed during the rule of Saddam Hussein.  Saddam was interested in developing Iraq’s archaeological sites as showcases for his regime and massive reconstruction projects were carried out throughout Iraq. 

A mušḫuššu on one of the walls of Babylon.

The mušḫuššu was a mythical creature combining the talons of an eagle, lion-like forelimbs, with a long neck and tail, a horned head, a snake-like tongue, and a crest.  They were placed on the walls of Babylon as protection for the city.

Walls of Babylon.

Another important site I visited was Ur.  One of the very first cities in the world and a key centre for the Summerian civilization.  It is famous for its massive ziggurat, a temple built to the god Nanna in about 2100 BC, by Ur-Nammu the King of Ur. 

The ziggurat at Ur.

The ziggurat is a massive platform built of mud brick to honour Nanna, the Mesopotamian god of the moon and wisdom.  Like Babylon this site was extensively reconstructed during the rule of Saddam Hussein.

As well as visiting archaeological sites I took a trip to the marshes in Southern Iraq.  These were at one point one of the largest wetland areas in the world.  The Marsh Arabs who lived there practiced a unique way of life that, in many respects, was unchanged from that of the ancient peoples of Iraq.  Large areas of the marshes were drained during the rule of Saddam, who saw them as a place where opponents of his regime could hide out.  This was an ecological catastrophe, destroying a unique habitat that was home to diverse wildlife as well as the Marsh Arabs.  More recently there have been attempts to reflood areas of the marshes and there are still communities of Marsh Arabs clinging to aspects of their old way of life.  The marshes were one of the highlights of my visit to Iraq.  They gave me a profound sense of peace and tranquility.  I can only imagine what they must have been like when they covered a significant part of southern Iraq. 

A Marsh Arab boatman using a traditional vessel to get around.

Buffalo in the marshes.

Buffalo have been kept in the marshes as an important source of food since ancient times.  A creamy cheese, made from buffalo milk, is still commonly eaten in Iraq.

A mudhif, a traditional guest house built out of reeds.

Mudhif houses are where the Marsh Arabs entertain their guests.  They are built with techniques that date back to some of the very first buildings in Iraq.

Inside a mudhif enjoying a meal of fish and flat bread.

Another highlight of my visit was seeing the National Museum of Iraq in Baghdad.  This museum suffered a great deal after the coalition invasion of Iraq in 2003.  The museum was extensively looted, with many objects from its collections smuggled out of Iraq.  Through the efforts of its staff and support from throughout the world the museum has recovered many objects and is again open.  It really is a treasure house that displays the sheer wealth of Iraq’s archaeological heritage. 

The Lady of Warka.

The Lady of Warka, also known as the Lady of Uruk, dating from 3100 BC, is one of the earliest representations of the human face.  It is probably an image of the goddess Inanna, who was associated with numerous things, including love, war and political power. 

Glazed brick lion from Babylon.

The impressive Assyrian sculpture hall in the museum.

Handing over a book on Gertrude Bell to an Iraqi colleague from the National Museum of Iraq.

Gertrude Bell, who was born in Washington County Durham, founded the National Museum in the 1930s as well as writing Iraq’s first Antiquities law.

Young Iraqis discussing their country’s heritage.

One of the most encouraging things I saw in the National Museum was a group of young Iraqis meeting to discuss their country’s heritage.  They clearly care a great deal for this and engaged in a lively discussion about what it meant to them.

Traditional Iraqi food.

Iraqi dish of river fish and rice.

Throughout my visit I was made to feel most welcome.  There was vast quantities of food, including plenty of river fish and rice, as well as salads, flat bread and buffalo cheese.

I also quickly became used to the Iraqi habit of wanting to have their photograph taken with you at every possible moment.  I must have posed for hundreds of pictures during the visit. 

This is one of my favourite pictures.  These young Iraqis have a distinct sense of style, particularly their haircuts.

Iraq is a country facing many challenges and it has a great distance to travel before the damage of over twenty years of conflict can be repaired.  Nevertheless I was impressed with how enthusiastic Iraqi’s were about their country’s archaeological heritage and their willingness to share it with the rest of the world.  Hopefully there will still be time to see the remarkable objects from Iraq in the Great North Museum and find out more about the British Museum’s efforts to support the preservation of Iraq’s heritage. 

A statue in Baghdad symbolising Iraq’s desire to repair its damaged archaeological heritage.  A many handed figure is reparing a broken cylinder seal.

As a charity, Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums rely on donations to provide the amazing service that we do and our closure, whilst necessary, has significantly impacted our income. Please, if you are able, help us through this difficult period by donating by text today. Text TWAM 3 to give £3, TWAM 5 to give £5 or TWAM 10 to give £10 to 70085. Texts cost your donation plus one standard message rate. Thank you.

The Hatton Collection: Ten Female Artists

Art   Collections & Objects   Design   Exhibitions   Hatton Gallery   Women
Posted by administrator on April 8, 2020     Permalink     Leave a comment

Written by Lizzie Jacklin, Keeper of Art, Hatton Gallery

Most art in museum collections was made by male artists, and where female artists are represented, their work is often less well known. This reflects a long history of most art being made, bought and sold by men, something many museums and galleries are now working to address. While women artists form a minority within the Hatton Gallery’s permanent collection, there are some fascinating female artists represented within it. These artists are the focus of this selection.    

The Hatton collection as a whole includes artworks dating from between the fourteenth century and the present day, but most of the works by women artists are twentieth century or later. This is due to the increasing opportunities available to women as the twentieth century progressed, as well as the fact that the Hatton’s collecting activity has often focused on modern and contemporary art.  

Why not explore our selection of works by women artists from the Hatton collection? There will also be a chance to see many of these objects on display in the gallery in the coming months, so do keep an eye on our website for further information.  

1. Ella Bergmann-Michel (1896-1972), Collagestudie:horizontal, 1926, ink and collage on paper  

One of the earliest works by a woman in the Hatton collection is this drawing and collage piece by the German artist and photographer Ella Bergmann-Michel. Bergmann-Michel almost always exhibited her work alongside that of her husband, Robert Michel, whose surname she hyphenated with her own. But she is now justly also remembered as an individual talent.  

Collagestudie:horizontal, Ella Bergmann-Michel, 1926, ink and collage on paper, (NEWHG: D.0017)

In addition to making abstract collage pieces like this one, Bergmann-Michel also left a mark as a filmmaker. One of her films, Wahlkampf 1932 – Election 1932, documented the final days of Weimar Germany in the weeks before Hitler rose to power. Later, the Nazis deemed Bergmann-Michel’s artwork ‘degenerate’ due to its modern influences, a judgement they applied to modern art made by many internationally renowned artists. Much artwork deemed ‘degenerate’ was confiscated and destroyed in Nazi Germany; it was probably for this reason that Bergmann-Michel hid some of her work behind a wall in her home during the war.  

2. Barbara Greg (1900-1983), BeachHuts, c.1932, wood engraving on paper  

Born in Cheshire, Barbara Greg moved to London as a young woman to study at the Slade School of Art and then the Central School of Art and Crafts. She is best remembered for detailed wood engravings like this one. She went on to illustrate several natural history books. She also exhibited her work widely at venues including the Royal Academy. 

Beach Huts, Barbara Greg, c1932, wood engraving on paper, (NEWHG: ET.0105)

This print of two women and a child between beach huts, with the sea in the background, reveals Greg’s ability to create highly detailed scenes using the method of wood engraving. This technique involves using sharp metal tools to engrave into a block of wood. When ink is applied to the surface of the finished wood block a print can be taken. It is possible this print arrived in the Hatton’s collection via the Contemporary Art Society, who also donated a copy of it to the British Museum.   

3. Louisa Hodgson (1905-1980), Sculpted Torso, pencil on paper 

Louisa Hodgson is the first – but not the last – artist on this list to have a close association with Newcastle University’s Fine Art department. She taught at King’s College (now Newcastle University) from 1924 until the 1960s, where she was respected for her knowledge of perspective and traditional methods. Within the wider art world, including at London’s Royal Academy, she gained a strong reputation for her ambitious ‘problem pictures’. These paintings, which were much debated in her lifetime, depicted scenes of modern life. Despite Hodgson’s successes, her work is almost completely forgotten these days, a fact the Hatton looked to address in 2018 with the exhibition Louisa Hodgson: A New Perspective.  

Sculpted Torso, Louisa Hodgson, pencil on paper (NEWHG: LH.0010)

The Hatton collection includes a large group of pencil drawings by Hodgson, such as this study of a sculpted torso seen reflected in a mirror. These drawings reflect Hodgson’s tendency to draw prolifically. Some of these sketches stand alone as technical or creative exercises, while others were made as preparatory studies for paintings.  

4. Mary Webb (born 1939), Nude (Figure in a Landscape), 1957, oil on board 

Mary Webb studied art at Newcastle under the tutelage of two leading British artists, Victor Pasmore and Richard Hamilton. This early painting is an unusual example of her work: she soon abandoned the recognisable forms and the relatively muted colour palette seen here. A visit with fellow students to the Tate Gallery’s New American Painting exhibition in 1959 had a profound impact on Webb’s approach. Her style became much more abstract, and she is best known for her paintings exploring vibrant colour combinations and geometric shapes. 

Nude (Figure In a Landscape), Mary Webb, 1957, oil on board, (NEWHG: OP.0095)

Webb went on to have a successful career as an artist and teacher, and examples of her work are held in several other British public collections. An exhibition of her work was held at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts in 2011; this show toured to the Hatton Gallery in 2012, where some of you might have seen it. 

5. Prunella Clough (1919-1999),The District Line, 1964, oil on canvas 

Prunella Clough studied art in London, where her learning was interrupted by the onset of World War Two in 1939. She worked as a draughtsman of maps and charts during the war before developing a long and prestigious career as an artist and teacher. She won the Jerwood painting prize shortly before her death in 1999.  

The District Line, Prunella Clough, 1964, oil on canvas, (NEWHG: OP.0095)

The District Line, which dates from the 1960s, reflects Clough’s interest in the overlooked urban landscapes of post-war Britain. While the left hand side of this piece, which she considered a diptych, is dominated by black, the contrasting areas of orange, red and blue make this painting one of the most vibrant and colourful in Clough’s oeuvre. The piece was given to the Hatton by the Contemporary Art Society in 1968; the gallery acquired a number of its best-loved pictures in this way. 

6. Rita Donagh (born 1939), Untitled, 1967, pencil and collage on paper 

Rita Donagh studied and taught in the north east. She joined Newcastle University’s Fine Art department as a lecturer 1962, a few years before making this piece. Her best-known work is political in nature, particularly in relation to the recent history of Northern Ireland. She has also made work that considers the role of women artists.  

Untitled, Rita Donagh, 1967, pencil and collage on paper, (NEWHG: D.004)

This piece combines a drawing, which Donagh made from a photograph showing the artist Andy Warhol and the actor and model Edie Sedgwick at Warhol’s studio, with a collaged photograph of Warhol walking with some friends. The grid-like forms and perspective lines are typical of Donagh’s work, which often displays a fascination with mapping and draughtsmanship.  

7. Elaine Johnson (born 1945), Centennial Pool, 1970, acrylic on canvas 

Another alumna of the Fine Art course at Newcastle, Elaine Johnson made this distinctive piece for her degree show in 1970. It is an example of Johnson’s ‘shape paintings’, in which she experimented with using the shape of the canvas as part of her interpretation of the subject. Here, the shaped canvas adds to the strong sense of perspective seen in the painting and draws attention to the canvas as a physical object. The sombre colour palette and the strange emptiness of the pool reflect the artist’s interest in the idea of absence.  

Centennial Pool, Elaine Johnson, 1970, acrylic on canvas, (NEWHG: 2011.6)

The gallery purchased Centennial Pool directly from Johnson’s degree show, and it has been exhibited in the gallery on a number of occasions since. After leaving Newcastle, Johnson successfully pursued a career as an artist and teacher.  

8. Paula Rego (born 1935),The Wild Duck, 1990, etching and aquatint on paper 

Born in Lisbon, Paula Rego lives and works in London. She is known for her narrative paintings and prints exploring highly politicised subjects, stories and fairy tales. When a 1998 referendum to legalise abortion in her native Portugal failed, Rego’s Abortion series, which depict the harrowing dangers of illegal abortion, was credited with helping to sway public opinion towards a second (this time successful) referendum on the matter in 2007.  

The Wild Duck, Paula Rego, 1990, etching and aquatint on paper, (NEWHG: 2015.731)

The meaning of this print, The Wild Duck, is much more ambiguous. It is a stand-alone narrative scene which shows a girl sitting on the lap of a man. Three rabbits move around on the floor beneath them, and three shadowy figures watch on in the background, one of them apparently holding the ‘wild duck’ of the title. Rego’s mastery of the tonal printmaking technique of aquatint allowed her to create effective tonal contrast, adding to the air of mystery pervading this strange and unsettling scene.  

9. Bronwen Sleigh (born 1980), Rue Sherbrooke Ouest, 2016, etching with hand colouring  

The contemporary Welsh printmaker Bronwen Sleigh takes inspiration from industrial architecture. Like Prunella Clough, she is also interested in forgotten urban spaces. In her prints she uses different colour combinations and geometric forms to reinterpret places she has visited. These places become unrecognisable within the world of lines, forms and architectural fragments visible in her finished prints.   

Rue Sherbrooke Ouest, Bronwen Sleigh, etching with hand colouring, 2016, (NEWHG: 2017.6)

In 2017 the Hatton won the Hallett Independent Acquisitions Award, which enabled the gallery to purchase 14 new prints for the collection at the London Original Print Fair. The gallery’s selection included a group of five etchings by Sleigh, of which this is one.  

10. Linder Sterling (born 1954),Untitled, 1979, photomontage collaged on paper 

This piece by the British artist Linder Sterling is one of the gallery’s most recent acquisitions. Linder is best known for her feminist photomontages, which this work is an example of. Here she has collaged images of the home, shown teetering dangerously. Through the windows we can see outsized images of women, surely too big to be confined within the buildings they peer out of for long.   

Untitled, Linder Sterling, 1979, photomontage collaged on paper, (NEWHG: 2019.6)

Linder’s wider practice has straddled performance, music and video. Her now iconic design for the sleeve of the Buzzcocks’ single Orgasm Addict (1977) is one of her most famous works: the design includes a nude woman with an iron for a head or helmet and mouths for nipples. Look out for our new exhibition of Linder’s work, Linderism, which travels to the Hatton Gallery from Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge later this year.  

As a charity, Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums rely on donations to provide the amazing service that we do and our closure, whilst necessary, has significantly impacted our income. Please, if you are able, help us through this difficult period by donating by text today. Text TWAM 3 to give £3, TWAM 5 to give £5 or TWAM 10 to give £10 to 70085. Texts cost your donation plus one standard message rate. Thank you.