Art by Women
Art represented and experienced by Women in history.
Many women artists have played a significant role in the history of art since ancient times. Often, school textbooks have not done justice to these artists, but today there are publications, exhibitions and social media profiles dedicated to celebrating women in art and architecture.
Who was the first woman painter? Although Greek and Latin authors have mentioned artists such as Timarete and Artemisia, it is very complicated to identify the first female painter. Until the 16th century, female participation in art was limited, although many nuns, such as Antonia Doni and Plautilla Nelli, gained recognition between 1400 and 1500. It was with the Renaissance that women began to receive the attention they deserved. Lavinia Fontana, born in 1552, is considered by most to be the first female painter. Her father, a painter, encouraged her to study and made an agreement with her husband so that his daughter could continue painting even after her marriage. Fontana is known for her portraits, including "Minerva in the Act of Dressing".
During the 16th and 17th centuries, Artemisia Gentileschi is known for being the only woman to enter the Academy of Drawing in Florence and for being a symbol of courage for denouncing rape by an artist of the time. In the 18th and 19th centuries, artists such as Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun, portraitist of Marie Antoinette, and Suzanne Valadon, the first woman to enter the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts, gained visibility. Despite restrictions in the Academies until 1900, Berthe Morisot emerged as a key figure of Impressionism, although her contribution was not always recognized. Rosa Bonheur, famous for her paintings of horses and her nonconformist lifestyle, is considered a pioneer of feminism.
From the 20th century onwards, with the official admission of women to the Academies and the arrival of the Avant-garde, the artistic landscape changed. Among the most influential artists are Tamara de Lempicka, Kathe Köllwitz, Carla Accardi and Sonia Terk Delaunay. Frida Kahlo, with her self-portraits, becomes an icon of feminism, a symbol of strength and courage. Today, the contribution of female painters is finally recognized. Among contemporary artists, names such as Yayoi Kusama, Georgia O’Keeffe, Jenny Saville, Bridget Riley, Marlene Dumas and Julie Mehretu stand out for their impact on the art world.