Women in Art

Week 1 Hildegard of Bingen’s

1142

The illumination from Hildegard of Bingen’s Scivias (1142–1152) portrays her receiving divine inspiration, with fiery flames encircling her head as she writes, observed by her secretary, Volmar. While Hildegard likely did not physically create the artwork, she directed its conception, asserting spiritual and intellectual authority in a male-dominated era. The flames symbolize her visionary experience, challenging traditional religious iconography.

Christine de Pizan

1399

​A notable depiction of Christine de Pizan, a pioneering medieval author and early advocate for women's rights, is found in an illumination from The Book of the Queen (c. 1410–1414), where she presents her manuscript to Queen Isabeau of Bavaria. In this image, Christine is portrayed kneeling before the queen, offering her work, a scene that underscores her role as an intellectual and author in a period when women's contributions were often marginalized.

Renaissance Sofonisba Anguissola

1555

Sofonisba Anguissola (c. 1532–1625) was an Italian Renaissance painter known for her intimate portraits. Trained under Bernardino Campi and mentored by Michelangelo, she gained fame for works like The Chess Game (1555). She became court painter to King Philip II, challenging gender norms in art.

Lavina Fontana

1613

Lavinia Fontana (1552–1614) was a pioneering Italian painter known for her portraits, religious works, and mythological subjects. One of the first women to establish a professional art career, she overcame societal constraints, earning prestigious commissions and becoming an influential figure in Renaissance art, especially for her portrayal of female nudes.

17th Century Anne Vallayer-Coster

1767

Anne Vallayer-Coster (1744–1818) was a French still-life painter known for her realistic depictions of luxurious objects, especially flowers and seafood. One of the few women admitted to the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture, she gained recognition for her skill in texture, light, and composition, defying gender norms.

Élisabeth-Louise Vigée Le Brun

1789

Élisabeth-Louise Vigée Le Brun (1755–1842) was a renowned French portrait painter, celebrated for her elegant depictions of aristocrats, including Queen Marie Antoinette. One of the first women admitted to the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture, she skillfully navigated societal constraints.

The 18th Century Mary Cassatt

1880

Mary Cassatt’s Woman in Black at the Opera (1880) portrays a woman actively observing the performance, challenging traditional passive female roles. Using Impressionist techniques, Cassatt highlights female autonomy and visibility in public spaces, reflecting evolving social and cultural roles for women in the late 19th century.

Anna Lea Merritt

1883

Anna Lea Merritt’s War (1883) highlights women’s emotional suffering during conflict, challenging Victorian ideals that limited their roles. As Whitney Chadwick notes, women artists expressed the tension between cultural expectations and creative authority. Merritt’s work reveals women’s resilience and burden amid war’s social and spiritual impacts.

19th century Nadezhda Udaltsova

1914

Nadezhda Udaltsova was a pioneering Russian Cubist artist. At the Piano (1914) showcases her avant-garde style, using fragmented geometric forms to depict a woman at a piano. The piece explores the intersection of domestic life and modernism, reflecting women's complex roles in early 20th-century Russian society.

Vanessa Bell

1917

Vanessa Bell’s The Tub (1917) presents a contemplative nude woman in a domestic setting, reflecting themes of privacy, vulnerability, and feminine introspection. Using soft colors and simplified forms, Bell challenges traditional depictions of women, emphasizing their inner lives and autonomy within early 20th-century cultural and social constraints.

20th Century (Europe) Suzanne Valadon (1865–1938)

1923

In The Blue Room (1923), Suzanne Valadon portrays a confident, modern woman lounging in patterned clothing, surrounded by books and smoking—a bold rejection of traditional female passivity. With vivid colors and assertive composition, the painting challenges gender norms and affirms women's autonomy, intellect, and evolving social roles in postwar France.

Marie Laurencin (1883–1956)

1934

In Portrait de jeune femme (1934), Marie Laurencin portrays a soft, introspective woman using pastel tones and fluid lines. Her feminine aesthetic rejects modernist rigidity, emphasizing emotion and grace. The work reflects evolving views on women's identity, autonomy, and inner life in early 20th-century French society.

Lee Krasner (1908–1984)

1947

Lee Krasner (1908–1984) was a prominent Abstract Expressionist painter known for her bold, dynamic compositions and pioneering role as a female artist in a male-dominated movement. Noon (1947) showcases her energetic brushwork and vibrant colors, reflecting her exploration of form and emotion during the early years of Abstract Expressionism.

Helen Frankenthaler (1928–2011)

1952

Helen Frankenthaler (1928–2011) was a key figure in Abstract Expressionism and Color Field painting. Her work Mountains and Sea (1952) introduced the soak-stain technique, blending translucent colors on unprimed canvas. This piece evokes natural landscapes through fluid, lyrical washes of color, marking a shift toward softer, feminine expression.

Cindy Sherman

1978

In Untitled Film Still #21 (1978), Cindy Sherman poses as a young woman caught in a cinematic moment, evoking 1950s film stereotypes. Using costume and setting, she questions how media constructs female identity. This photograph critiques traditional representations of women and highlights second-wave feminism’s challenge to gender roles.

Kara Walker

2014

Kara Walker’s A Subtlety (2014) is a monumental sugar sculpture depicting a Black woman, highlighting the exploitation of Black bodies in the sugar industry and colonial history. The work confronts racism, slavery, and gender stereotypes, provoking reflection on historical injustices and their lasting impact in contemporary society.