Today Milena and Megan cover Croatian deaf watercolorist Slava Raškaj (1877 – 1906) & British paleoanthropologist Mary Leakey (1913 – 1996) who helped to publicly bolster the idea of evolution









Slava Raškaj







We’re gonna be honest – today is a case were our artist dies young and then gains recognition after the fact. This episode Megan covers the greatest 19th century watercolor artist that you’ve never heard of, Slava Raškaj. Born when Croatia was still under Austro-Hungarian Empire rule, Slava became the leading watercolor artist of her day. Born deaf, Slava defied the notion of a deaf person being ‘deaf and dumb’. Through her watercolors Slava documented life in late 1890’s middle class Croatia. While conventional by todays standards (and honestly late 19th century standards as well), these works showcase the skills of an artist that passed away too early.



Selected Works



Still life work, A Yellow Cock and White Hen, watercolor



 1899 watercolor work, Water Lilies



Another watercolor from Slava’s waterlilies series – these paintings of waterlilies are some of her most well known work



Commemorative coin of Slava released by theCroatian National Bank in 2000





* Vlaho Bukovac – Butthole artist that refused to train a woman artist, let alone a deaf one. Leading Croatian painter of the day* Bela Čikoš Sesija – Not butthole artist that professionally supported Slava * Read the thesis paper we mentioned here: Jamie Lovley, University of Maine Women’s Mental Health in the 19th Century: An Analysis of Sociocultural Factors Contributing to Oppression of Women as Communicated by Influential Female Authors of the Time







Mary Leakey







Mary Leakey was one of countless Britons exploring the work in the name of science. Having experienced archeology firsthand as a young teenage, Mary pursued her interest in history by devoting her career to the exploration of prehistoric humans. Working with her husband and fellow researcher Louis Leakey, together they made numerous findings in documenting the time of mankind’s evolution as well as supporting other scientists like Jane Goodall. A respected scientist in her own right, in 2013 Mary was honored as one of six ‘Great Britons’ by the Royal Mail.







As always, music by EeL



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