The Appeal of Womanhood

Pro-female suffrage propaganda postcard designed by Louise Jacobs and published by the Suffrage Atelier. Printed in white, black and blue, the central figure represents a 'Womanly Woman' standing before a group of women representing a chainmaker, a mother, a laundress and a prostitute. The banner held by the central figure above a skyline showing the Houses of Parliament refers to the social reforms the suffragettes hoped would follow female suffrage. The postcard entitled 'The Appeal of Womanhood' was probably designed as a riposte to Harold Bird's poster entitled 'No Votes Thank You', published for the anti-suffrage meeting held at the Albert Hall in February 1912. Louise Jacob's design was also produced in poster format and was first seen being carried during the Edinburgh-to-London march of the 'Brown Women' in 1912.

The Suffrage Atelier was founded in London in February 1909. Its aim was: 'to encourage Artists to forward the Women's Movement, and particularly the Enfranchisement of Women, by means of pictorial publications.'
The Atelier artists specialised in hand-made wooden block prints, stencilling and etchings and produced visually powerful posters and postcards to publicise the pro-suffrage campaign.