The Women's Exhibition, May 1909

Postcard depicting a stall at The Women's Exhibition, Prince's Skating Rink, Knightsbridge, May 1909. The Women's Exhibition and Sale of Colours was organised by the Women's Social and Political Union to raise funds for the organisation and highlight the Suffragette cause. The exhibition included over 50 stalls selling items made and donated by WSPU members and well-wishers. To the left of this image stands Flora Drummond, a leading member of the Women's Social and Political Union who played a key role in organising and recruiting volunteer workers and stewards for this two week event. Behind the stall can be seen some of purple, white and green murals designed by Sylvia Pankhurst that ran the length of the walls. Each mural was painted with an arch of purple grapes and green ivy with, in the centre, alternating designs depicting either a pelican feeding its young, a flying dove with an olive branch in its mouth or the broad arrow surrounded by a wreath of laurels. At the back of the hall was a large canvas painted with three female figures representing the themes from 'The Sower' to 'The Reaper'.