Edith Francis Mary Struben Paintings

Edith Francis Mary Struben, although not widely known in the mainstream art historical canon, was a British painter whose life spanned from 1868 to 1936. Born into the Victorian era, a time of significant cultural and social change, Struben's work was influenced by the evolving artistic movements of her time, including Impressionism and the Arts and Crafts movement. She was part of a generation of women who pursued art professionally, a pursuit that was becoming increasingly acceptable, though still challenging, for women during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Struben's career was characterized by her dedication to landscape painting and watercolors. Her style often reflected the softness and fluidity of the medium, with a keen eye for the subtleties of light and color that are hallmarks of Impressionist work. Despite the constraints placed on women artists during her lifetime, which often limited their access to formal training and professional opportunities, Struben managed to develop her artistic voice and exhibit her work.

Not much is documented about her personal life or her career's specifics, which is not unusual for female artists of her time, whose contributions were frequently overlooked or undervalued by contemporaries and historians alike. However, it is known that she exhibited with the Royal Academy of Arts, a prestigious institution in London, which suggests that her work was recognized and appreciated within influential art circles.

Struben's death in 1936 marked the end of her life but not the complete disappearance of her contribution to British art. In the years following, the art world has seen a growing interest in rediscovering and reevaluating the works of female artists from the past, including those like Struben, who may not have been household names but nonetheless contributed significantly to the richness and diversity of their country's artistic heritage.