Jess Blake

Also known as Jess Dyson
  • Artist (Cartoonist / Illustrator)
Federation-era cartoonist, Jess Blake was a member of the talented Dyson family - her siblings included writer Edward, cartoonists Ambrose and Will and fashion designer Ett. Blake caused a family uproar when she married Harry Blake at 17 and already four months pregnant.
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black and white artist, was the youngest member of the talented Dyson family, the sister of writer Edward, cartoonists Ambrose and Will and fashion designer Ett Dyson. Jess, 'an amusing livewire’, married Harry Blake when she was seventeen and already four months pregnant. Brother Will commented:

Never did a girl enter upon the grave responsibilities of matrimony with so careless a heart. I have seen the sex display more concern over the setting up of a doll’s house. However… she finds that a great many desirable things into £2-5-0 a week won’t go (quoted McMullin, p.42).

Jess’s very Norman Lindsay -ish drawing of a line of gambolling koalas being led across the land by a goblin Pied Piper was commended in the Bookfellow’s 'Decorative Drawing Competition-Headpieces and Tailpieces’ held in 1907 (ill. Bookfellow 18 April 1907, 8).

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Writers:
Kerr, Joan
Date written:
1996
Last updated:
2007

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