-
1150
Scivias I.6: Humanity and Life by Hildegard von Bingen
In Scivias I.6: Humanity and Life, created around 1150, Hildegard von Bingen presents a symbolic vision of humanity’s place in the universe. Hildegard von Bingen was an abbess, artist, and scientist. The central image features a nude woman, representing humanity, surrounded by flames, stars, and cosmic shapes. I was drawn to this image because of the colors and shape. -
1167
Birth of Christ by Herrad of Landsberg
Herrad was an abbess who created the manuscript as an educational tool for nuns, she was also an artist. In her 12th-century illustration The Birth of Christ, Herrad of Landsberg presents a version of the Nativity that centers Mary in a way that subtly reflects feminist ideas. Although the image follows the typical Romanesque style, flat figures, bold lines, and symbolic composition, it stands out because Mary is shown as dignified and central. This image stood out because of its use of color. -
1555
The Game of Chess by Sofonisba Anguissola
Sofonisba Anguissola was an Italian painter and one of the first well-known women artists in Europe. This painting shows three of her younger sisters playing chess while a woman watches. The painting feels natural and relaxed, not stiff or overly posed like in many other paintings from that time. Anguissola painted this to show that women could be intelligent, playful, and worthy of attention. I selected this artwork because the sisterly bond and competition reminded me of my sisters. -
The Concert by Judith Leyster
Judith Leyster was a Dutch Golden Age painter. The Concert shows three musicians, two men playing instruments and a woman singing, seated close together, smiling and clearly enjoying each other’s company. The scene feels lively and warm, and Leyster paints the figures with realistic lighting and detail, especially in their facial expressions and clothing. I selected this painting because the joy on each individual's face is timeless. -
Artemisia Gentileschi's Self-Portrait as the Allegory of Painting (La Pittura)
Artemisia Gentileschi, a 17th-century Italian painter, was trained under her father, Orazio. After surviving a rape and public trial involving Agostino Tassi, she channeled her strength into art. Her Self-Portrait as the Allegory of Painting presents her as the embodiment of painting, asserting women's talent and agency. Using oil on canvas, she highlights her features with light and color, challenging male dominance in art and claiming her place as a successful woman artist. -
Portrait of a Lady created by Mary Beale
Mary Beale, a 17th-century English painter, was largely self-taught and influenced by Sir Peter Lely. She ran a successful portrait studio with her husband, rare for a woman in a male-dominated field. In her 1680 Portrait of a Woman, Beale uses soft tones and a muted background to highlight the subject’s features, portraying her as dignified and strong. Though likely a commission, the work subtly challenges gender roles of the time. -
Self-Portrait with Monocle, created by Anna Dorothea Therbusch
Anna Dorothea Therbusch was an 18th-century artist who began her career at 40 after raising children and learning art from her father. In Self-Portrait with Monocle, she paints herself confidently, holding a monocle, a symbol of intelligence usually linked to men. The dark background highlights her thoughtful expression. This portrait challenges gender roles, showing women as smart, capable, and deserving of recognition beyond traditional expectations. -
Self-Portrait of the Artist Hesitating Between the Arts of Music and Painting, created by Angelica Kauffman
Angelica Kauffman (1741–1807) was a Swiss artist who learned art from her father and became a founder of the Royal Academy of Arts. In her 1794 painting Self-Portrait of the Artist Hesitating Between the Arts of Music and Painting, she shows herself choosing between two passions—music and painting. The elegant, symbolic scene reflects her inner struggle and ultimate choice. The painting sends a powerful message about women having the freedom to follow their own path. -
Young Wife: First Stew by Lilly Martin Spencer
Lilly Martin Spencer, a 19th-century American artist, balanced realism and idealism to portray women's domestic roles with both comfort and critique. In Young Wife: First Stew (1854), a fashionable but distressed young woman stands in a chaotic kitchen, reflecting the pressures of homemaking. As her family's primary breadwinner, Spencer challenged gender norms, suggesting that women could succeed beyond traditional roles. -
The Death of Cleopatra by Edmonia Lewis
Edmonia Lewis, a 19th-century African American and Native American sculptor, used her art to challenge racial and gender injustice. After leaving Oberlin College due to racially motivated accusations, she studied sculpture in Boston. In The Death of Cleopatra, she portrays the queen realistically in her final moments, not as sexualized, but strong and complex. Lewis’s work honors the strength of marginalized women seeking dignity and recognition. -
Nude Series VIII, created by Georgia O’Keeffe
Georgia O’Keeffe, a modernist American painter, created Nude Series VIII in 1917 to reclaim the female form. Using blue and red watercolors, she depicted a calm, introspective woman with emotional depth. The blank background centers attention on the figure, emphasizing softness and strength. At a time when women were fighting for rights, O’Keeffe challenged traditional roles by portraying women as complex, human, and autonomous. -
Spanish Dancers created by Natalia Goncharova
Natalia Goncharova was a Russian artist known for helping develop rayonism and designing for the Ballets Russes. After moving to Paris in 1914, she continued her work until her death in 1962. Her painting Spanish Dancers shows two women in white floral skirts and veils, mid-dance, with serious expressions. The warm colors and focus on the figures highlight their strength and confidence, reflecting women's growing cultural presence and independence at the time. -
The Musician, created by Tamara de Lempicka
Tamara de Lempicka was a Polish painter known for mixing modern and classical styles. After moving to Paris, she painted wealthy, glamorous people and gained fame. Her portrait The Musician shows a confident woman in a blue dress with bold makeup and a strong expression. The grey background makes her stand out. Lempicka likely wanted to show how women in the 1920s were becoming more independent, creative, and aware of their place in society. -
Grand Street Brides, created by Grace Hartigan
Grace Hartigan, an abstract expressionist painter, used bold colors and a chaotic style to challenge gender roles. In Grand Street Brides (1954), she depicts store-window mannequins in wedding dresses, symbolizing society’s pressure on women to marry young and conform. The brides blend into the background, showing a loss of individuality. Through this work, Hartigan critiques postwar expectations that women return to traditional domestic roles. -
First Lady Michelle Obama created by Amy Sherald
Amy Sherald, a New York–based painter known for portraying African American subjects, created the 2018 portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama in her signature style. Using a solid blue background and gray-toned skin, Sherald highlights Obama’s calm strength and challenges traditional views of race and representation. The portrait redefines power and womanhood, showing that African American women deserve visibility, recognition, and space in positions of influence. -
Song of Songs created by Jenny Saville
Jenny Saville is a contemporary English painter known for exploring imperfection and the human body. In Song of Songs, she uses layered brushwork to depict intertwined bodies with intimacy and realism, rejecting the male gaze. The faceless forms emphasize shared human experience. Saville reclaims the female form, challenging beauty norms and highlighting women's strength, authenticity, and emotional depth.