Draw Her Thoughts
Rubbings on tracing paper, graphic on paper, printing frame and movable type (installation view at Chelsea Cookhouse, April 2018)
"All that would occupy her mind to the exclusion of better things...all that would tend to draw away her thoughts from others and fix them on herself, ought to be avoided as an evil to her"
It must not be supposed that the writer is one who would advocate, as essential to woman, any very extraordinary degree of intellectual attainment, especially if confined to one particular branch of study....
To be able to do a great many things tolerably well, is of infinitely more value to a woman than to be able to excel in any one. By the former, she may render herself generally useful; by the latter, she may dazzle for an hour. By being apt, and tolerably well skilled in every thing, she may fall into any situation in life with dignity and ease – by devoting her time to excellence in one, she may remain incapable of every other....
So far as cleverness, learning and knowledge are conducive to woman's moral excellence, they are therefore desirable, and no further.
Mrs Ellis The Family Monitor and Domestic Guide
