Week 4 Woman Artists

 For this weeks zoom discussion we read and explored “Why have there been no great woman artists?” By the art historian Linda Nochlin. It examines feminist art history, it also discusses feminist theory and sexual politics. Historically, there have been many obstacles that woman artists have had to go through to be recognized as fine artists and taken seriously. The author Linda Nochlin expresses how unappreciated woman artists have been in history and how as a society we accept what is known to be “normal” which has historically been white men creating famous, worthy, and expensive art work, and women do not. Nochlin analyzes Art history by questioning the social and institutional structures of the production of art, the world of art, and art history. She talks about the lack of education women received in the arts historically and how that contributed to the lack of art being produced by women. Women were often the subject matter in a piece of art rather than being the talent behind the canvas, they were the beauty in front of it. From the renaissance to the end of the 19th century nude painting was essential and considered one of the most important art forms. Groups of men would gather to paint predominantly the male nude figure. During this time women were not aloud to draw nude models of either gender, so this practice was exclusively for men. Because of this, women were not able to study the human figure and gain the same practice as a man was able to. Women had to stick to scenery, flowers, etc. Until 1893 women were not admitted to life drawing at the academy in London, and after that the model had to be partially draped. This was considered a very important skill for a beginner artist. This discrimination against women made it impossible to create a worthy painting during this time period. Women were not accepted as professional painters. 

Over the years however, society has changed and now women are considered “almost equal” and have the opportunity to get art education, and practice fine arts more regularly, but there still have not been nearly as many significant famous woman artists as there have been men. 

“The assumptions lying behind the question "Why have there been no great women artists?” Are carried in range and sophistication. They run from scientifically proven demonstrations of the inability of human beings with wombs rather than penises to create anything significant, to relatively open minded wonderment that women despite so many years of near equality have still not achieved anything of major significance in the visual arts.” (Nochlin)

Some institutions and social forces have prevented women from becoming great artists, for example it was frowned upon for a woman to be incredible at one thing. Women were supposed to take care of the children and the chores first and then they had time to “dabble” in their hobbies such as music and the arts. This way the men had time to be incredible at any one thing.   

Art history has defined great art  with subject matter, emotion, scenery, and method. One problem with that is great art work was historically seen through a white mans eyes, and all of these years later that influence is still present on todays artists. A woman's artistic style was not considered traditional or extravagant, so the question is how and will this ever change?


Cite:

https://blackboard.lms.csupueblo.edu/webapps/blackboard/execute/blti/launchPlacement?blti_placement_id=_9_1&content_id=_1449092_1&course_id=_57404_1


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