Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh (1864-1933)

Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh, overshadowed by her husband, famed architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, was a key figure in the emergence of the ‘Glasgow Style’ in the 1890s. Mackintosh was part of a group of women who were the first girls allowed to enroll in the Glasgow School of Art. These girls, who became known as The Glasgow Girls, transformed decorative and interior design with their new ‘Glasgow Style.’ The work of Mackintosh and The Glasgow Girls were inspired by Celtic imagery, literature, symbolism and folklore. As visible in her work, Mackintosh was skilled in a variety of mediums, such as watercolor, metal work, embroidery and textiles. Though Mackintosh’s work was somewhat marginalized in comparison to her husband, her husband recognized how monumental her work was, saying “Margaret has genius, I have only talent.” Between 1895 and 1924, Mackintosh contributed to over 40 exhibition across Europe and America. It is believed that Mackintosh was one of the artists famed Viennese Secessionists Gustav Klimt and Josef Hoffmann drew inspiration from. 

Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh (Scottish, 1864-1933) The White Rose and The Red Rose, 1902 Painted gesso on hessian glass 100 x 98 cm Private Collection

Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh (Scottish, 1864-1933) O ye, all ye that walk in Willowwood, 1903 Pencil and oil painted gesso on panel, glass and enamelled glass beads 164.5 x 58.5 cm Glasgow Museums

Sources:

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/arts/margaret_macdonald_the_talented_other_half_of_charles_rennie_mackintosh.shtml
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Macdonald_Mackintosh