Janie Wilkinson Whyte

Whyte was a painter, etcher, and wood-carver who studied at the National Gallery School from 1890–1895^[1] and together with Dora Wilson and Jessie Traill took lessons in etching from John Mather.^[2] Their etchings were published in The Lone Hand in 1907 as some of the earliest works in this field made by women.^[2] Whyte was an impressionist artist who painted portraits,^[3] figure studies, and landscapes,^[4] and was one of the first Melbourne women to paint dockyard scenes.^[1] She also painted interiors and flowers, and worked with oils, watercolours, and pastels.^[4] Her cityscapes contained charming observations of Melbourne life.^[1] Whyte taught at the Sydenham College^[5] and Ipswich Girls Grammar School.^[6] Whyte showed with the Melbourne Society of Women Painters and Sculptors in the 1920s.^[7]

As part of a first wave of feminist artists in Melbourne,^[1] Whyte presented a paper at women's cultural group the Austral Salon along with Violet Teague in August 1907.^[8] While a copy of her lecture was not archived it is said she discussed the struggle for Australian women artists to get recognition.^[8]

Whyte died on 7 April 1953 at her home in Canterbury, Victoria,^[9] and was cremated.^[10] She was survived by a sister and numerous nieces and nephews.

• Janie Wilkinson Whyte Australian art and artists file, State Library Victoria
• Janie Wilkinson Whyte : work old and new (Athenaeum, Sept 17–28, 1935) digitised item, State Library Victoria