Women's art through the centuries

[PotholeHellhole]

I thought it would be nice if we took a moment to mention our favoured female artists.

I'm not particularly cultured, so I'm only familiar with the most famous names. I hope to learn of more neglected artists after the Womanittee has got going!

This is a poem by Christina Rossetti.

A Study (A Soul)

She stands as pale as Parian statues stand;
Like Cleopatra when she turned at bay,
And felt her strength above the Roman sway,
And felt the aspic writhing in her hand.
Her face is steadfast toward the shadowy land,
For dim beyond it looms the light of day;
Her feet are steadfast; all the arduous way
That foot-track hath not wavered on the sand.
She stands there like a beacon thro' the night,
A pale clear beacon where the storm-drift is;
She stands alone, a wonder deathly white;
She stands there patient, nerved with inner might,
Indomitable in her feebleness,
Her face and will athirst against the light.

Gwendolyn Bennett (b. 1902-1981)

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwendolyn_B._Bennett

American journalist, poet, and artist.

iraaa.museum.hamptonu.edu/media/img/small/20130313_135915435_RGB_M25228-1.jpg

Screenshot for people who don't want to follow the link.

I read a book about The Dinner Party, an installation by Judy Chicago, now permanently at the Brooklyn Museum, when I was in my twenties. I've never forgotten it.

www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/dinner_party

The Dinner Party sounds amazing.

Your name reminded me of Anne Brontë, who was always a little overlooked compared to her more famous siblings.

In Memory Of A Happy Day In February

Blessed be Thou for all the joy
My soul has felt today!
O let its memory stay with me
And never pass away!
I was alone, for those I loved
Were far away from me,
The sun shone on the withered grass,
The wind blew fresh and free.

Was it the smile of early spring
That made my bosom glow?
'Twas sweet, but neither sun nor wind
Could raise my spirit so.

Was it some feeling of delight,
All vague and undefined?
No, 'twas a rapture deep and strong,
Expanding in the mind!

Was it a sanguine view of life
And all its transient bliss­-
A hope of bright prosperity?
O no, it was not this!

It was a glimpse of truth divine
Unto my spirit given
Illumined by a ray of light
That shone direct from heaven!

I felt there was a God on high
By whom all things were made.
I saw His wisdom and his power
In all his works displayed.

But most throughout the moral world
I saw his glory shine;
I saw His wisdom infinite,
His mercy all divine.

Deep secrets of his providence
In darkness long concealed
Were brought to my delighted eyes
And graciously revealed.

But while I wondered and adored
His wisdom so divine,
I did not tremble at his power,
I felt that God was mine.

I knew that my Redeemer lived,
I did not fear to die;
Full sure that I should rise again
To immortality.

I longed to view that bliss divine
Which eye hath never seen,
To see the glories of his face
Without the veil between.

I did my dissertation on Women Artists, I’ve forgotten most of what I learned now, so I’d love to see what everyone puts here.

Also am inspired to reread Women, Art and Society so thanks.

I now wish I’d kept up the interest I had back then.

I think Artemisia Gentileschi was an amazing artist! Really powerful work.

www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/artemisia-gentileschi

One of my favourite threads on here was one that introduced Artemisia Gentileschi to me, where women were nominating paintings for the cover of a women's Bible.

A few years ago I completely by accident saw an exhibition of women's art in one of the Manchester art galleries. I'm not sure if I can find the details now, there was some good stuff including some of Sylvia Pankhurst's studies of working women.
If you do an image search for 'paintings by sylvia Pankhurst' you should be able to find some of them.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-prelude-to-inspiring-women-artists-marchmont-tickets-138156883959?aff=

[quote ArcheryAnnie]I read a book about The Dinner Party, an installation by Judy Chicago, now permanently at the Brooklyn Museum, when I was in my twenties. I've never forgotten it.

www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/dinner_party[/quote]
I was lucky enough to see the Dinner Party in Edinburgh when I was an art student. Never forgotten it.

Paula Rego. Excellent documentary on iplayer: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08kz9qz

Well, let's start as close to the beginning as we can ...

www.nbcnews.com/sciencemain/prehistoric-cave-prints-show-most-early-artists-were-women-8C11391268

Wendy Cope

HE TELLS HER
He tells her that the earth is flat —
He knows the facts, and that is that.
In altercations fierce and long
She tries her best to prove him wrong.
But he has learned to argue well.
He calls her arguments unsound
And often asks her not to yell.
She cannot win. He stands his ground.

The planet goes on being round.

There is speculation that the creators of the Paleolithic 'Venuses' were women making self portraits

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_of_Willendorf

www.jstor.org/stable/2744349?seq=1

The Orange by Wendy Cope

At lunchtime I bought a huge orange—
The size of it made us all laugh.
I peeled it and shared it with Robert and Dave—
They got quarters and I had a half.

And that orange, it made me so happy,
As ordinary things often do
Just lately. The shopping. A walk in the park.
This is peace and contentment. It’s new.

The rest of the day was quite easy.
I did all the jobs on my list
And enjoyed them and had some time over.
I love you. I’m glad I exist.

it just seems to sum up for me the way being in a stable loving relationship makes the rest of your life happier, more contented.

There's a huge collection of art by women you can browse through here

www.art.newhall.cam.ac.uk/collection/

Which includes this...

That Guerrilla Girls poster has always stayed with me.

Tracy Emin has to be included because she certainly got people talking about her art.

Adrienne Rich

From Diving into the Wreck

We are, I am, you are
By cowardice or courage
the one who find our way
back to this scene
carrying a knife, a camera
a book of myths
in which
our names do not appear.

www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/features/joan-eardley

Artist known for her depiction of Glasgow street .children

Great idea for a thread.

Two of mine: Louise Bourgeois and Barbara Hepworth. I also really like Tracy Emin and Sarah Lucas.

I am finding out about more and more women artists through Instagram accounts I follow. (Including 'Great Women Artists' )

Kathe Kollwitz. Woman with dead child. Both horrific and beautiful as she has a sensitivity and depth of knowledge that speaks about the feminine. She suffered many losses throughout her life & survived the Nazis. I prefer her drawings as they have an immediacy, a direct link to her feeling for her subject matter. Visual proof that the reality of woman is lived, not adopted.

I love Nicoletta Tomas Caravia's work www.tuttartpitturasculturapoesiamusica.com/2011/05/nicoletta-tomas-madrid-spain.html?m=1

I don’t think anyone has mentioned the lovely Twitter account @womensart1 which tweets contemporary and historical women’s art, craft and photography from different cultures. I’ll post some pictures below...

Elin Danielson-Gambogi