Women in Art
Women's History Month is March, so this post celebrates Women in Art from several angles. The Prince William Art Society (PWAS) is made up of a lot of very talented men and women artists and there are two things for certain - one is that the female form has been the subject of art since the beginning of time. The other is that you can't look at a painting and know if it was painted by a man or a woman unless it goes by the title of "Self Portrait" (maybe).
Women Artists in History
Interestingly, in the past, creative women were pushed into the stereotype of fiber art and textiles (picture all the women sitting around the parlor in their gowns 'embroidering cushions'), while the "Master Artists" are nearly all men. Women were not allowed to practice anatomy drawing nor were they allowed in the art schools. A few women broke through the stereotypes as they could, when they could, and in one way or another.
In The Powerful Legacy of Women in the Art World, the question is asked, "Do women have to be naked to get into the Met. Museum?" And it states, "Less than 5% of the artists in the Modern Art Sections are women, but 85% of the nudes are female." - Guerrilla Girls.
On the National Museum of Women in the Arts website it states, "Just 11% of all acquisitions at prominent American museums over the past decade were of work by women artists." Why is that? And again I say, you cannot very well look at artwork and say which gender it was painted by! The only questions that should be asked when viewing an artwork are if it is appealing, inspiring, does it make a statement, how it makes the viewer feel.
For Further Reading:
The Role of Women in Art History
The World's Most Famous and Favorite Women Artists
Although there are so many different types of arts as everyone knows both inside and outside of the visual arts, the focus on the list below is mainly on favorite female painters and sculptors. Thank goodness for these trailblazers that broke through the challenges of their day. Drop a comment if you know of other female artists that should be listed here.
Agnes Martin (Canadian, 1912 - 2004, aged 92 - Minimalist)
Alma Thomas (American, 1891 - 1978, aged 87 - Abstract)
Angelica Kauffman (Swiss-Austrian, 1741 - 1807, aged 66 - Neoclassical)
Artemisia Gentileschi (Italian, 1593 - 1653, aged 60 - Baroque)
Augusta Savage (American, 1892 - 1962, aged 70 - Sculptor)
Berthe Morisot (French, 1841 - 1895, aged 54 - Impressionism)
Bridget Riley (British, b. 1931 - Optical Art)
Catharina van Hemessen (Flemish, 1528 - 1580, aged 52 - Renaissance)
Elaine Sturtevant (American, 1924 - 2014, aged 89 - Appropriation Art, Conceptual Art)
Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun (French, 1755 - 1842, aged 87 - Rococo, Neoclassical)
Faith Ringgold (American, 1930 - 2024, aged 93 - Feminist Art Movement)
Georgia Totto O’Keeffe (American, 1887 - 1986, aged 99 - American Modernism)
Helen Frankenthaler (American, 1928 - 2011, aged 83 - Abstract Expressionism)
Hilma af Klint (Swedish, 1862 - 1944, aged 82 - Abstract)
Joan Mitchell (American, 1925 - 1992, aged 67 - Abstract Expressionism)
Judith Jans Leyster (Dutch, 1609 - 1660, aged 51 - Baroque, Dutch Golden Age)
June Leaf (American, 1929 - 2024, aged 94, Abstract, Kinetic Art)
Kara Walker (American, b. 1969 - Contemporary)
Lee Krasner (1908 - 1984, aged 76 - Abstract Expressionism)
Leonora Carrington (British-Mexican, 1917 - 2011, aged 94 - Surrealist)
Louise Bourgeois (French-American, 1911 - 2010, aged 99 - Sculptor)
Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderon (Mexican, 1907 - 1954, aged 47 - Surrealism, Magic Realism)
Mary Stevenson Cassatt (American, 1844 - 1926, aged 82 - Impressionism)
Rosa Bonheur (French, 1822 - 1899, aged 77 - Realism)
Sofonisba Anguissola (Italian, 1532 - 1625, aged 93 - Renaissance)
Sonia Delaunay (Ukrainian-born French, 1885 - 1979, aged 94 - Orphism)
Tamara de Lempicka (Polish, 1898 - 1980, aged 82 - Art Deco)
Tracey Emin (British, b. 1963 - Contemporary)
Yayoi Kusama (Japanese, b. 1929 - Pop Art, Minimalism, Feminist Art)
Women as the Subject in Art
Although the world's art history was very slow to recognize women as artists, women have quite often been the subject of some of the world's most famous artworks! Probably the most famous of a woman in a painting is of course, the Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci which is currently hanging at the Louvre Museum in Paris. Another world's favorite is "Girl with a Pearl Earring" by Johannes Vermeer, hanging at the Mauritshuis Museum, The Hague.
Here are a few of the 'women in art' paintings that I snapped pictures of when PWAS took a field trip to the National Gallery of Art in October 2024. I am sure you recognize some of these famous works.
PWAS Artists Share Thoughts and Women in Art
I asked the PWAS members for thoughts and artwork and a few members present their "women in art" pieces and some share their thoughts on the subject here.
From PWAS Member Bruce Fasick
Below is “RoeVWade” aka "The Pen is Mightier than the Sword” aka “Men Against Women Against Violence Against Women”. More pix may be view in the program link (towards the back in the Sculpture section):
https://indd.adobe.com/view/138e0db9-4fcf-4d6b-9e97-83a13f5a56e0
From PWAS Member Emily Hawes
As to thoughts on women in arts, I think of famous women like Mary Cassatt, Janet Fish etc., but I also think of the women in Our arts - The high percentage of our county arts and our PWAS board who are female, the women who have been president of the PWAS (I think maybe Jim Gallagher was the only male in years?). The percentage of our county art teachers who are female... The women who are in it for personal enrichment and to support cultural opportunities for our communities and
families rather than for the glory (or big bucks). Just saying maybe there's something there, in the overlooked ladies?
From PWAS Member Mandy Powell
I have recently become obsessed with learning more about Camille Claudel. She studied under Rodin in Paris with rumors to have been romantically involved with him. However, he moved on with someone else. Her worked was censored and deemed inappropriate and later she was committed to a mental asylum. She ended up dying there and being buried in an unmarked grave. Now, she is known for her remarkable statues of marble and bronze. Her traumatic story as an artist is beyond moving, especially considering she worked by Rodin, but was never recognized for her talent. In the past, there has been little representation of women behind the canvas (or statues), despite their contributions to the visual arts world. Here's a web site with more details: Camille Claudel
Although I'm not a sculptor, my art has highlighted women this past month. I've enjoyed playing with new mediums and painting women exhibiting deep emotions. Whether women are the creators of the art or are the centerpieces of the art, women contribute an immense beauty to the art world in every aspect.
From PWAS Member Sandra McClelland Lewin
"Lady Liberty Weeps" This is a painting of mine sold a few years ago (and) I think the sentiment speaks for itself.
From PWAS Member Patty Gulledge
My daughter is a working artist in Charlottesville, and I painted this little sketch of her creating beauty during the pandemic.
From PWAS Member Sonya Cormwell
“Up Lijah 2” by Sonya Cromwell 18x24x.75 acrylics on canvas,
original. This picture depicts a childhood memory of seeing my
grandmother looking out towards a creek. Purchase on Etsy: https://
“Comforting”
by Sonya Cromwell 15x30x1.5 acrylics on canvas, original. This picture
depicts women comforting each other. Purchase on Etsy here: https://
From PWAS Member Donna Liguria
Agreement must be made with Emily Hawes, that the wonderful heroic Women of PWAS that step up as Board members, Event, Scholarship, Program, Hospitality, and Gallery Committees in order get things done with and for the Prince William Art Society - they ALL keep us going. We appreciate our members! Art Groups just cannot survive without these women! We need ALL members to take a role toward our group's success!
Are You Our Next PWAS Hero?
Yes, March is Women's Month, but what is life without both men and women? Creative people make art, all art, and make up art groups. Your skills, your creativity in problem solving, your knowledge, your skillsets and your desire and love of art are what is needed today. And PWAS needs more heroic women AND men - to get us into the future of art in Prince William County!
Join PWAS
Join a PWAS Committee
Did I miss your favorite female artist? Do you have something to say about Women in Art? Drop a comment below...
Artistry Spin Blogmaster and an artist member of PWAS in Woodbridge, VA, specializing in acrylic painting. She paints landscapes, seascapes, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at DonnaLiguriaArt.com, her Donna's Esty site and her Blog at Donna’s Cave Paintings.
Local Art: The Prince William Art Society is a 50+-year-old non-profit art group in PWC for the appreciation of fine art throughout the county and Northern Virginia. Visit us at any of our local art shows or join us for our monthly meetings - held on the 4th Monday of the month at the Tall Oaks Community Center at 12298 Cotton Mill Dr, Woodbridge, VA at 7:30pm
Want to join PWAS? Go to https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/membership
