Ethel Carrick
1872–1951[1]

Ethel Carrick

When Ethel Carrick was elected a sociétaire of the Paris Salon d'Automne in 1911[1], she became one of a small number of women to hold that distinction. The following year she joined the Salon's jury, a position she held until 1925, making her one of the longest-serving female jurors in the institution's history at a time when women remained largely excluded from such roles.

Held in 2 museumsWikipedia

Portrait of Ethel Carrick

Biography

Born in Uxbridge, Middlesex in 1872[1], she trained at the Slade School of Fine Art under Henry Tonks around 1898[1] to 1903, then settled in Paris where she developed a plein air Impressionist practice. In 1905 she married the Australian Impressionist Emanuel Phillips Fox. When Fox died of cancer in 1915, Carrick began a period of sustained travel through the Middle East, South Asia, and Europe that broadened her palette and subject matter considerably.

Her style shifted around 1911[1] and 1912 toward flatter, more Fauvist-inflected compositions: outdoor markets, public parks, beaches, and floral still lifes painted with increasing boldness. By the 1940s she was working in Australia, documenting landscapes and institutional interiors including Parliament House in Canberra.

For much of the twentieth century her reputation sat in her husband's shadow. That has since changed. Contemporary criticism now treats her as the more formally adventurous of the two, and her prices at auction have reflected that reassessment. She also taught private still-life classes at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière during the 1920s. She died in Melbourne in 1952.

Timeline

  1. 1872Born in Uxbridge, Middlesex.
  2. 1898Began training at the Slade School of Fine Art under Henry Tonks; she studied there until 1903, aged 26.
  3. 1905Married the Australian Impressionist Emanuel Phillips Fox.
  4. 1911Elected a sociétaire of the Paris Salon d'Automne at 39.
  5. 1912Joined the jury of the Salon d'Automne; she held the position until 1925.
  6. 1915Her husband, Emanuel Phillips Fox, died of cancer.
  7. 1915Began a period of travel through the Middle East, South Asia, and Europe, aged 43.
  8. 1920Taught private still-life classes at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière during the 1920s.
  9. 1940Working in Australia, documenting landscapes and institutional interiors.
  10. 1952Died in Melbourne, aged 79.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is Ethel Carrick's most famous work?
    It is difficult to name one single work as Ethel Carrick's "most famous". Carrick was a prolific painter, and her oeuvre includes a variety of subjects and styles, making it hard to isolate one piece that overshadows all others. Carrick is best known for her depictions of markets, beaches, and street scenes, often featuring women and children. She painted these subjects in locations around the world, including France, Australia, and India. Her style is characterised by its bright colours and energetic brushwork, influenced by Impressionism and Post-Impressionism. Without specific sales figures, exhibition records, or critical analyses to point to one particular artwork, it is more accurate to say that Carrick is celebrated for her collective contribution to Australian Impressionism and her skill in capturing everyday life across different cultures.
  • What should I know about Ethel Carrick's prints?
    When considering Ethel Carrick's prints, it is useful to understand some basic principles. An original print is conceived as a print, and executed solely as a print, often in a numbered edition, and signed by the artist. Each print in the edition is an original, made from a plate, stone, screen, or block created for that purpose. The artist decides the number of prints in the edition. The numbering of prints has only recently become standard. Early prints were not numbered or signed; in some cases, the artist might have signed the plate or stone itself, with no pencilled signature on each print. Offset reproductions are reproduced by photochemical means. Plates used in offset reproductions do not wear out, so there are no physical limits on the number of prints that can be made. Quantities may still be limited by the publisher to add value to the edition. The edition claim is written as a pair of numbers on the left bottom margin of the print itself: it consists of a print number and an edition number written as a group with a short separating line between them. The print number is written above or to the left, and the edition size is written below or to the right.
  • What style or movement did Ethel Carrick belong to?
    Without more specific information, it is difficult to assign Ethel Carrick to a single movement. However, some general information about art movements may be useful. Art history is often organised into movements, periods, or styles. These broad classifications group artists with similar approaches, aesthetics, and intentions. Movements can be defined by a specific philosophy (such as the pre-Raphaelites), a shared technique (such as Impressionism), or a historical period (such as the Renaissance). Some well-known movements include Baroque, Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Realism, and Modernism. It is worth noting that many artists do not fit neatly into one category, and their work may incorporate elements from multiple movements. Further research into Carrick's specific works and influences would be needed to determine the most appropriate classification.
  • What techniques or materials did Ethel Carrick use?
    Ethel Carrick often employed oil paints, applying them in a manner that captured the effects of light and movement. Her paintings display a clear interest in plein air techniques, evident in her use of fluid oil mediums to achieve smooth surfaces and detailed brushwork. Carrick's approach did not typically involve coarse bristle brushes or thick impasto effects; instead, she favoured soft hair brushes to temper her pigments. Carrick sometimes mixed standard artist's oil paint with a medium of wax and turpentine. She would apply the mixture to the canvas with a brush, working it over to ensure the medium and paint were thoroughly mixed. She would then use a large painting spatula or a small painting knife to bring the surface to a satisfactory state. Carrick's technique involved a tactile engagement with the surface, manipulating the materials to achieve her desired visual effect.
  • What was Ethel Carrick known for?
    Ethel Carrick, sometimes known as Ethel Carrick Fox following her marriage, was an Australian impressionist painter. She is best known for her images of markets and beaches. Carrick studied in London and Paris. She travelled extensively in Europe, North Africa, and the South Pacific, often depicting scenes from her travels. These works often focused on everyday life, particularly the activity of outdoor markets. Examples of her work include titles such as *Le Marché, Dieppe*, and *In the Flower Garden*. Her paintings often display an interest in the play of light and colour, typical of the impressionist style. Carrick's subject matter and technique mark her as a significant figure in Australian art.
  • When did Ethel Carrick live and work?
    Ethel Carrick (1872[1]-1951[1]) was an Australian impressionist painter. She spent much of her career in Europe, particularly in France and England. Carrick's early artistic training took place in Brisbane and Sydney during the 1890s. By 1903[1], she had moved to London and married the artist E. Phillips Fox. The couple then relocated to Paris, where they remained until Fox's death in 1915. During this period, Carrick exhibited at the Salon d’Automne, of which Walter Sickert was elected a sociétaire in 1907. Carrick continued to travel extensively throughout Europe and further afield, capturing scenes from various locations. In 1927, Vanessa Bell wrote to Virginia Woolf that Cassis (France) was ideal for painting. Carrick died in Melbourne in 1951.
  • Where can I see Ethel Carrick's work?
    To view Ethel Carrick's work, you could start with museums that feature art from the Art Deco period. These include institutions in both the United States and the United Kingdom. In the United States, consider the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art (Winter Park, Florida), the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Los Angeles), the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (Minneapolis), the Museum of Modern Art (New York), the Royal Ontario Museum (Toronto), the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (Richmond), and the Wolfsonian at Florida International University (Miami Beach). In the United Kingdom, you might visit the Bakelite Museum (Williton), Brighton Museum & Art Gallery (Brighton), the Geffrye Museum (London), Manchester Art Gallery (Manchester), the National Museums of Scotland Royal Museum (Edinburgh), or the Victoria & Albert Museum (London).
  • Where was Ethel Carrick from?
    Ethel Carrick was Australian. She was born in Uxbridge, Middlesex, England, in 1872[1], while her Australian parents were visiting the UK. Carrick studied art in Australia and Paris. She exhibited in Paris at the Société des Artistes Français, the Salon d’Automne, and the Salon des Indépendants. Carrick travelled extensively. She lived in England and France, and journeyed to various locations including Italy, Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, India, and New Zealand. She often depicted market scenes and everyday life in these places. Carrick married the artist E. Phillips Fox in 1905[1]. After his death in 1915, she continued to travel and paint. She returned to Australia in the 1920s and became part of the Sydney art scene. She died in Melbourne in 1951[1].
  • Who did Ethel Carrick influence?
    Ethel Carrick's influence is difficult to measure directly, but some sources offer possible connections. Althea McNish, a textile designer, may have been among those who felt Carrick's impact. McNish broke new ground in British textile design through her use of colour and texture. One source suggests that McNish influenced fellow students at the Royal College of Art, as well as those who were emerging in the field at the time. Once manufacturers began utilising McNish's textures and bright colours, other designers followed suit. Botanical artist Celia Rosser may offer another indirect connection. Rosser studied the compositions of Ellis Rowan, a popular flower painter. Rosser moved away from Rowan's crowded compositions, but Rowan's work, in its time, may have opened possibilities for later artists such as Carrick and Rosser.
  • Who influenced Ethel Carrick?
    Ethel Carrick (1872[1]-1951[1]) was an Australian Impressionist painter. The question of artistic influence is complex, but some artists who influenced others include Claude Monet (1840-1926[1]), Édouard Manet (1832-1883[1]), John Singer Sargent (1856-1925), Mary Cassatt (1844-1926), Auguste Rodin (1840-1917), Edgar Degas (1834-1917), Suzanne Valadon, Paul Cézanne, Lucy Bacon (1857-1932), Camille Claudel (1864-1943), Paula Modersohn-Becker (1876-1907), Paul Gauguin, Henri Matisse (1869-1954), Käthe Kollwitz (1867-1945), Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890), Tamara de Lempicka (1898-1980), Fernand Léger (1881-1955), Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), Varvara Stepanova (1894-1958), Aleksandra Ekster, Francis Bacon (1909-1992), George Grosz (1893-1959), Hannah Höch (1889-1978), Marcel Duchamp (1887-1968), Piet Mondrian (1872-1944), Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944), Kazimir Malevich, Bridget Riley (born 1931), Jackson Pollock (1912-1956), Alexander Calder (1898-1976), Ben Nicholson (1894-1982), Constantin Brâncuşi (1876-1957), Barbara Hepworth (1903-1975), Sophie Taeuber-Arp (1889-1943), Amrita Sher-Gil, Amedeo Modigliani (1884-1920), Henri De Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901), Maurice Utrillo, Diego Rivera (1886-1957), Frida Kahlo (1907-1954), Joan Miró (1893-1983), Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986), Judy Chicago, Takashi Murakami (born 1962), Max Ernst (1891-1976), Yayoi Kusama (born 1929), Eva Hesse (1936-1970), Andy Warhol (1928-1987), Marina Abramović (born 1946), Cornelia Parker (born 1956), Gustav Klimt (1862-1918), Sonia Delaunay-Terk (1885-1979), Paul Klee (1879-1940), Anni Albers (1899-1994), Tracey Emin (born 1963), Loïs Mailou Jones, Julie Mehretu (born 1970), Hilma Af Klint (1862-1944), Agnes Martin (1912-2004), and Margaret Macdonald (1864-1933).
  • Who was Ethel Carrick?
    Ethel Carrick (1872[1]-1951[1]) was an English-born Australian Impressionist painter. She spent much of her career outside Australia, painting scenes of markets, beaches, and city life in Europe, Asia, and the Pacific. Born in Cambridge, Carrick studied art in London and Paris during the late 1890s and early 1900s. In 1903[1], she married the Australian artist E. Phillips Fox and travelled with him in Europe. After his death in 1915, she continued to travel, paint, and exhibit her work internationally. Carrick returned to Australia in the 1930s and continued painting and exhibiting there until her death. Her art is associated with Australian Impressionism, and Post-Impressionism. Carrick's paintings are held in many public and private collections in Australia and internationally.
  • Why are Ethel Carrick's works important today?
    Ethel Carrick (1872[1]-1951[1]) was an English-born Post-Impressionist painter who spent much of her career in Australia and France. She is now recognised for her depictions of everyday life, particularly scenes of markets, beaches, and gardens. Carrick's importance lies in her ability to capture the atmosphere and colour of these settings, using a style influenced by Impressionism and Fauvism. Her works offer a glimpse into the social life of her time, showing women at work and leisure. Carrick's art also challenges earlier assumptions about women artists. Despite facing obstacles because of her gender, she travelled widely and exhibited her work internationally. Her artistic achievements and independent spirit make her a significant figure in the history of Australian and British art. She took chances at a time when no one took women artists or women’s issues seriously, and especially for the mistakes they weren’t afraid of making.

Sources

Editorial draws on the following primary and tertiary references for Ethel Carrick.

  1. [1] wikipedia Wikipedia: Ethel Carrick Used for: biography, birth dates, death dates, identifiers, movement attribution, nationality.
  2. [2] book Penny Olsen, Collecting Ladies: Ferdinand Von Mueller and Women Botanical Artists Used for: biography.
  3. [3] book Landauer, Susan, The not-so-still life : a century of California painting and sculpture Used for: biography.

Editorial overseen by Solis Prints. Sources verified 2026-06-28. Click a source for details, or hover over [N] in the page above to preview.

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