Laura Knight

Dame Laura Knight (Johnson; 4 August 1877 – 7 July 1970) was an English artist known for her work in oils, watercolours, etching, engraving, and drypoint. She was a prominent figure in the figurative, realist tradition, and was a proponent of English Impressionism. Knight's career spanned many decades and she achieved great success and popularity in Britain, breaking barriers for women artists. In 1929, she was awarded the title of Dame, and in 1936, she became the third woman to be elected as a full member of the Royal Academy. Knight's retrospective exhibition at the Royal Academy in 1965 was the first of its kind for a woman. Throughout her career, Knight was inspired by the theatre, ballet, and marginalized communities such as Romani people and circus performers.