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1142
Week 1 Hildegard of Bingen’s
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. -
1399
Christine de Pizan
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. -
1555
Renaissance Sofonisba Anguissola
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.