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Hildegard of Bingen
Scivias by Hildegard of Bingen, a nun who lived from 1098 to 1179. Her work shows the strong religious beliefs of the Middle Ages. Line and color are key in this work. During Hildegard’s time, men were in charge of most spaces. Still, she found a way to share her voice. I chose this piece because of the contrasting colors and how It reminded me of a tapestry. Scivias is important because it shows that even when women had few rights, some still found ways to create powerful art. -
Lavinia Fontana
Marriage Portrait of a Bolognese Noblewoman (1589) Lavinia Fontana: one of the first professional female artists. Portrait of a Noblewoman reflects The Middle Ages because of the focus on wealth/status. The painting uses dark background colors and contrasting light skin tones. This shows how women only became painters if their father was, which was the case with Lavinia Fontana. I selected this artwork because I found it to be beautiful with the detailed jewelry, and patterns in the fabric. -
Fede Galizia
Fede Galizia - Italian painter. She was trained by her father and known for her still life paintings and portraits. The painting shows Judith after she kills the enemy Holofernes. Galizia does not focus on the violence. Instead, Judith is calm and composed. She wears rich clothing and jewelry, and her face is peaceful. She holds the sword in one hand and the severed head in the other. The focus is on bravery and quiet strength. This version shows that women can be brave smart and in control. -
Artemisia Gentileschi
Artemisia Gentileschi famous for her female subjects. This piece is feminist because Artemisia is claiming her power. She is saying that she is painting itself. In a world where women were often seen as weak, she shows herself as talented and strong. By painting herself this way, Artemisia challenges the idea that only men can be great artists. Artemisia’s work speaks to women’s strength, creativity, and worth. She shows that women can be leaders in art and in life. -
Mary Beale
Mary Beale (1633–1699) was one of the first professional female artists in England. She was known for her portraitures. Her husband supported her career, and helped her run a successful studio. In her Self-Portrait (1666), Beale gazes directly at the viewer with calm confidence. The composition uses soft lighting, a dark background, and brings the viewers eyes directed to Beale. The work is subtly feminist. Beale portrays herself not as a decorative object but as a creator and professional. -
Maria Sibylla Merian
Maria Sibylla Merian (1647–1717) was a German naturalist and artist. Metamorphosis of a Small Emperor Moth (1679) is a watercolor illustration that shows the full life cycle of the moth surrounding a host plant. Merian challenged gender roles by working as a published researcher in a male-dominated field. Her work breaks norms by placing a woman at the center of scientific knowledge production. Her art shows that women could also observe, think, and contribute meaningfully to science and culture -
Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun
Madame Grand (1783)-Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun. A female artist of the 18th century, known for her portraits of European nobility. Born in Paris in 1755, her work reflects the style of pre-revolutionary France but also challenged traditional depictions of women. Vigée Le Brun portrays her subject seated on a green velvet sofa, wearing a gown with her hair tied in a blue ribbon. I choose this painting because of the soft lighting and gentle colors. -
Anne Vallayer-Coster
Vallayer-Coster, born in 1744, was a highly skilled French painter, best known for her still lifes. Accepted into the prestigious Académie Royale at just 26. Vallayer-Coster’s work reflects the Enlightenment era’s interest in nature, science, and beauty, while also challenging the idea that still life painting was a lesser genre. The painting features a bouquet of flowers in a carved alabaster vase, andcripe fruit on a table. I chose this piece because of its beauty. -
Berthe Morisot
Berthe Morisot - The Psyche Mirror (1876)
Berthe Morisot was a French Impressionist painter whose work reflected the roles of women in 19th-century Parisian society. She formed a friendship with Édouard Manet, and married his brother Eugène Manet. The painting shows a young woman glancing into a tall mirror, bathed in soft light, capturing themes of femininity, and domestic space.I was drawn to The Psyche Mirror because of its intimate portrayal of a woman’s private moment. -
Mary Cassatt
Mary Cassatt - At the Opera (1879)
Mary Cassatt was an American-born Impressionist who lived in France. Her art explores the roles of women in upper-class society. The painting features a woman in a theater box observing the performance while a man in the background watches her, showing themes of observation, gender roles, and the public visibility of women. I chose At the Opera because it captures the complexity of being both observer and observed, and the female experience in public life. -
Paula Modersohn-Becker
Paula Modersohn-Becker, Self-Portrait with Two Flowers in Her Raised Left Hand, 1907 Paula Modersohn-Becker was a German painter who was part of the early Expressionist movement and one of the first women to paint herself nude, reflecting the growing independence of women in the early 20th century. The self-portrait shows the artist holding two flowers, with a calm gaze and serious face, showing both vulnerability and strength. I chose this piece because it is beautiful and pulling. -
Käthe Kollwitz
Käthe Kollwitz, The Mothers (Die Mütter), 1922 - 1923.
Käthe Kollwitz was a German artist known for her prints, drawings, and sculptures that showed the pain and struggles of the working class, especially during and after World War I and II.
This piece shows a group of grieving and protective mothers with dark, thick lines and deep shadows. I chose this work because of its emotional power and how it speaks for women and families who suffered during war. -
Georgia O'Keeffe
Georgia O'Keeffe - Jimson Weed/White Flower No.1 (1936)
O’Keeffe was born on 11/15/1887 and grew up on a farm in Wisconsin. O’Keeffe studied art at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Art Students League in New York. She is best known for her landscapes and close-up floral paintings.
The image is a beautiful painting of blooming flowers with a light blue and white dreamy background. I selected this painting because I was drawn to the flowy petals and curving leaves. -
Helen Frankenthaler
Helen Frankenthaler - Small’s Paradise (1964).
Frankenthaler was an American abstract painter. She is best known for inventing the soak-stain technique. Small’s Paradise features large, flowing washes of green, pink, red, and blue hues that bleed into each other on the canvas.
I was drawn to this piece because of its fluid strokes and because I enjoyed the color combinations. -
Yayoi Kusama
