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We talk about history’s greatest artists all the time:
Michelangelo. Picasso. Van Gogh. Da Vinci. But do you notice a pattern?
Something is missing. A strong force and powerful presence not even mentioned.
Women.
All of the famous painters we revere, talk, and learn about were all men. And a great part of their work they receive credit and praise for is their paintings of women.
The art realm has always been an almost exclusively male environment where female artists — both in the past and present — have struggled to find a place at the table.
Fortunately, things seem to be changing.
Female Artists in History
There are many unrecognizable female artists that belong on the list of greats throughout every period in history.
Sofonisba Anguissola (1532–1625) cleared the path for other women to apprentice during the Italian Renaissance by being the first one to do so herself.
Artemisia Gentileschi (1593–1653) was the first woman to be accepted into the renowned Italian art academy of her time.
Élisabeth Vigée le Brun (1755–1842) became Marie Antoinette's personal portrait artist.
Berthe Morisot (1841–1895) landed her work in the very first Impressionist exhibit alongside her male counterparts, Monet, Degas, Cézanne, and Renoir.
More recently, Tamara de Lempicka(1898–1980) and the iconic Frida Kahlo (1907–1954) have paintings that belong to some of the world’s most distinguished art museums and galleries.
These resilient women’s efforts paved a path for much of the representation of female artists receive today.
Women in Art Today
Women in art have been discriminated against, muted, and omitted from the art world for centuries — and even today.
According to the U.K.’s National Museum of Women in the Arts, a little over half of today’s artists are women.
But these numbers don’t match up with our modern-day galleries, collections, and museums.
78% of London’s exhibits have higher male representation than female. A mere 5% have equal representation.
How We Can Make a Change
Today, women in art can create their pieces, learn their craft, and explore diverse themes with much more freedom than in the past.
But we still have quite a way to go.
Let’s remove the veil and shed the covers muting the women of the art world, both in the past and in the present.
One of the most effective ways of doing so is supporting women in art.
I am a female artist on a mission to empower and embolden women through my portrait paintings. I paint strong, courageous, and independent female figures who reflect the power in both these bold female artists and you.
Take some time to browse my paintings at https://www.laraspadettoart.com/ .
By clicking on the image below you can download one of my most cherished portraits "ARTEMIS" in high resolution. You can print it directly at your home or have it reproduced on fine paper.
I hope it brings you joy.
You will also become part of my VIP community. Together we can do a lot by supporting each other!
This print will be available for a limited period of time. Click on the image below to download it.
Resources:
https://mymodernmet.com/famous-female-painters-art-history/
https://www.tate.org.uk/art/tate-exchange/women-in-art