People Australia

Sissi Paul, n.d.

Emily Letitia (Sissie) Paul, née Mutton (1866-1917) artist and Socialist 

Birth: 1866 at Bathurst, New South Wales, daughter of Edward Henry Mutton (1839-1920), storekeeper and farmer, born at Mutton Falls, Fish River, NSW, and his first wife Anne, née Palmer (d.c.1878). Marriage: 1886 in Sydney to Alfred Paul (1844-1925). They had two sons. Death: 26 January 1917 at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney; late of Dee Why, NSW. Religion: Methodist. 

• Was an accomplished landscape painter. Provided with economic security and freedom to pursue interests by her husband, in early 1890s she attended art classes at the Royal Art Society and studied art at Julian Ashton’s Sydney Art School with Thea Proctor. Was an original member of NSW Society of Artists in 1895.
• In 1908 she left Australia to study in Paris and London, exhibiting work there and in New York. During a three-year stay in the United States of America, she was influenced by Socialist and feminist ideas.
• Returned to Australia in 1914. Joined Society of Women Artists. In 1915 became manager of the Australian art section of Grace Brothers store, Sydney. Joined the Australian Socialist Party in early 1914.
• Contested Federal seat of Cook on socialist platform in 1914, receiving 500 votes (the first woman to run as a candidate of a socialist party in Australia). Became prominent Socialist public speaker at the Domain and elsewhere.
• Although strong anti-conscriptionist, in 1916 she objected on class grounds to efforts by Betsy Matthias and other members of Women's Peace Army to unite all women to oppose war.
• In June 1916 she resigned her post at Grace Brothers through ill health (diabetes).
• Was a friend of W. J. Chidley, eccentric.
• Her husband was sometime head of the Public School Cadet Forces.
• Oswald Edward (Mick) Paul (1888-1949), artist for Bulletin, Sydney Worker and Smith's Weekly, was her son.
• Cause of death: diabetes.

Sources
H. J. Gibbney & Ann G. Smith A Biographical Register 1788-1939, vol 2 (Canberra, 1987); Joy Damousi, Socialist Women in Australia, c.1890-c.1918, Ph.D thesis, ANU, 1987; International Socialist, 11 July 1914.