Gender and Power -

At this point in time, sewing was a female occupation. A particular scene of Aelfgya illustrates how under Feudalism, "the works structure and language displace women from power" (Chadwick 48). This is a good representation of how women were situated outside any form of political power, and as nuns they were foreseen to follow the strict regulations of the clerical celibacy. Important matter about the middle ages is that all art was commissioned by the church; as such, the artwork made was not only very religious, but names were not necessarily attached to the artwork. An example of this is The Beatus Apocalypse of Gerona, which was worked by both male and female monasteries. In this regard, men were “as forgotten as the females” (Guerrila Girls 20).

The middle ages was a time when women were given an insignificant amount of power in society. Women had some influence and position in society, but they were objectified and were made to serve men. All women mostly were put in a household with a man, because of the assumed lack of skills and was no help in places such as public areas (work).  As time moves along, women were put in gender roles and pushed away from public.  It should be seen that, "within the convent women had access to learning even though they were prohibited from teaching by St. Paul's caution that a woman must be a learner, listening quietly, and with due submission. I do not permit a woman to be a teacher, nor must a woman domineer over a man; she should be quiet"(Chadwick). Imagine living in society where you had to listen to your husbands every word. 


 During the Renaissance, the Church’s power over societies started to wane as countries became separated, while interested in making money, and showing off their wealth. Aristocrats became the primary source of demand for artwork, and at the beginning of the Renaissance, guilds started becoming central to the public sphere in Southern Europe because of the higher demand. These guilds allowed women to join with full rights and privileges (Chadwick). However, by the end of the Renaissance, not one woman was found to be in a guild; in Southern Europe, men began removing women as professionals from the public sphere completely. Although convents still existed, and allowed for female artistry, women were assigned roles that required less skill; Renaissance period, the focus shifted more towards "what a women could do" (Chadwick 87). 

As stated in the Guerilla Girls, “Education was thought to interfere with a woman’s ability to be a good wife and mother. Almost no women were taught to read and write” (Guerilla Girls 22). As women slowly made their way into the world of art there were some men that supported them but there would also be other who still believed that they belonged in the house and nowhere else. As Chadwick states, "Women's virtues are chastity and motherhood: her domain is the private world of the family" (Chadwick). Women have overcome challenges, and become liberated because of new laws such as voting, divorce act which helped gain insight on having ownership. From the Renaissance to the 19th century you see the art and women moving into the public; and are allowing themselves to do what they want. 

 Works Cited

Chadwick, Whitney. Women, Art, and Society. New York, NY: Thames and Hudson, 2002.

The Guerrilla Girls' Bedside Companion to the History of Western Art. New York: Penguin, 1998. Print.

post 2 -Tulsi Raja

Evonny Portilla

Evonny Portilla

The Middle Ages was a period of European history that lasted from around the 5th century to the 15th century. During this time, women held roles that varied from being wives, mothers, peasants, artisans, and nuns. They would therefore have roles that were very insignificant to the advancement of society. There were hints of hope for women as some managed to work at home with their husbands or even close to home and their life expectancy increased because of improved nutrition (if they didn’t die giving birth). Although a lot of religious roles opened up for some women, and few did manage to become of high church status, the overall concept of being a woman would be pale in comparison to that of being a man. Their gender would automatically, by default, set them up to be inferior to men and society.

    Some more hints of improvements can be seen during the Renaissance period, but it still wasn’t nearly enough, at all. This Renaissance period was a time for cultural flourishment but mainly only for males, and not so much for woman as they were seen as too weak to rule over a community or make their own life decisions. Women were still legally dependent on men as their fathers would force them into a marriage that was not of their decision, they were disadvantaged educationally in comparison to men, and the judicial system heavily favored men. Society would be structured in a way that placed men in a dominating position, and women remained in an inferior place in the hierarchy. There were some women during this time period that had some wealth and fortunately managed to break through this pattern, and shine some light on the future of women. One such woman is Isabella d’Este who was perhaps the most influential and the most intelligent woman in the Renaissance period. She managed to spread awareness and influence several other women with her public appearances where she showed off her skills in writing, in dancing, and in playing musical instruments. Her husband, Francesco Gonzaga, was the duke of Mantua and when he was captured, she ruled mantua by herself. At last, a woman was capable of influencing the economic development of this region, increasing the development of the textile and clothing industry which became the backbone of Mantua’s economy. She would collect a lot of paintings, manuscripts, and other artistic things and influenced her people to also take interest in these forms of art. Isabella managed to break through this social barrier that always existed for women, and she did it because of her skill and talent and dedication. Not only did she prove to be artistically and culturally gifted, but also talented in the realm of economics and politics. Her influence for a woman in this era was out of this world and the praise and respect she received and still received is very deserving. To be considered as equal to her husband is remarkable, to say the least. In Chadwick it demonstrates a series of female artist’s successes and achievements as time progresses. Much like the next paintings below, they have managed to push through shoulders of men and make themselves worth what they are which is a work of art. Women have man a name for themselves, although the war for equality is still going on as we speak there has at least been progression in the way female artists are perceived and the intentions they bring.

Lorenzo Costa the Elder. Crowning of Isabella d’Este, (detail), 1505–06. Musée du Louvre, Paris. (Image: © Kathleen Cohen, courtesy of World Images Kiosk, California State University)

    Continuing on to the 19th century, we begin to see a shift in the everyday lives and roles of women. This change can be attributed to a number of things such as the undeniable nature of modernism and the change that comes with it but also heavily to the actions of women themselves who were craving to escape the limits that were placed on them because of their sex. During this century, access to art increased a lot more for women all over the world. The Society of Female Artists was founded in London in 1855 (which is now known as The Society of Women Artists) and it has held exhibitions every year since 1857. Although women still had several issues and were still being treated unequally to men, the artistic push for women increased as well as their determination to achieve more equality with men. At this point, we have several female artists that can be used to highlight the struggles for equal right during the 19th century. Amongst this list of female artists, Harriet Hosmer stands out for being the first professional woman sculptor. She ended up moving to Rome from America at the age of 22 to join a community of writers and artists.

A prime style of sculpture from Harriet Hosmer; Beatrice Cenci.

Another female artist around this time that really reflects women's ideas and really illuminates the fact that Women are starting to be able to express more of their ideas is Harriet Powers. She was born a slave and throughout her lifetime she would translate stories and myths from the Bible and turned them into beautiful quilts using piecework technique. The fact that Harriet Powers was able to express her own belief into a quilt must mean that Women were able to convey what they believed through to society a lot more potently. It was becoming more common for Women to be freely able to express themselves and there was clearly less of a strain on them in general

    In conclusion, women have always faced troubles relating to equality with men. Even today, women are still facing the same dilemma, but it has greatly gotten from what it used to be. A lot of the things that applied back then are very crazy to imagine to have occurred.

Works Cited

The Guerrilla Girls’ Bedside Companion of the History of Western Art, Penguin Books, 1998.

Chadwick, Whitney. “Women, Art, And Society,” Fourth Edition. World of Art. 2007.

http://www.thefinertimes.com/Middle-Ages/women-in-the-middle-ages.html

http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/w/women-in-the-renaissance/

https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/eascfa/dinner_party/place_settings/isabella_d_este

Gender Roles, Subject and Power.

       The middle ages were moderately a rough era, especially for women. Women did not possess the same rights as men. Almost everything on a daily basis was considered a hardship for women. Men were required to be the breadwinners of the household while women were expected to stay home, cook and clean, and take care of the children. In general, men were more superior than women. “The head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man.” (Guerrilla Girls, 19) There was a limited source for education for both genders but more so for women. Books were kept in the church and for the rich. “The Christian Church, as the dominant force in Western medieval life, organized communication and culture, as well as religion and education.” (Chadwick, 43) Nuns were able to obtain education because there were books at churches. They could get more educated than women at home as they were the only ones who can read and write as women at the time.

Detail of The Effects of Good Government, a fresco in the City Hall of Siena by Ambrogio Lorenzetti, 1338

       As for art, churches and cathedrals were the most artistic achievements at the time. But there were other forms of art as well. “Religious objects, illuminated manuscripts, and tapestries, to name a few, all made by artists working in guilds, collective workshops, and religious communities.” (Guerrilla Girls, 19) There weren’t many known artists; they were nameless. In Fact, the artists of the era worked and produced art for Kings and Nobles. “These nameless artists labored in the service of abbots, abbesses, kings, and nobles, who dictated the content of the work and directed its production.” (Guerrilla Girls, 19) There was a substantial amount of women artists working for either business owned by family members or as nuns in convents. Most artists of the middle age era did not sign their work and did not receive credit. Instead, the patrons were accountable for the works and won praise for pieces they did not create. In a sense, since it was difficult to attribute specific art to individual people, male artists were faintly treated the same as female artists during this era.

       Soon, the period known as the Renaissance came along and reshaped Europe culturally. Different forms of media and all sorts of creativity were being recognized. From sculptures to paintings to many types of art, were being generated. It was the era of opportunity for individuals with talent in the art genre. A few women artists were rising as well. However, most people to this day generated the assumption that art in the Renaissance was an “all-guys game” (Guerrilla girls, 29). Unless they were born in a family who were artists, it was hard for women to pursue art. It was hard for women to make money off it too. Sofonisba Anguissola was the first well-known women artist of the Renaissance. Her father believed women should be educated. “He sent one of her drawings to Michelangelo.” (Guerrilla Girls, 29)

Self-Portrait of Sofonisba Anguissola, 1556, Lancut Museum, Poland

       Bologna, during the Renaissance period, was the most popular city in Europe that supported women artists. Unlike other cities, Bologna allowed the women to be educated. Elisabetta Sirani, an artist from Bologna, was so talented as a painter that she was accused of signing her name to her father’s work.

Elisabetta Sirani, Portia Wounding Her Thigh, 1664

       As for laws and regulations, the rules women were required to follow were still stringent. They still couldn’t vote as they were denied all political rights. Women were to perform the duties of a housewife. Peasant women were to work alongside their husband as well as fulfill the roles of a housewife, taking care of the family and house. Even women of the highest class, although assisted by servants, stayed home, cooked and cleaned and engaged in housewife activities. From childhood, the parents controlled the lives of his or her daughter. Women could not choose who they wanted to marry. Instead, their parents decided for them and left them miserable for the rest of their life. The husband would then control over her till she dies or he died himself. If a women chose not to marry, she will still not get her full independence but rather be dependent upon and live with a relative, or live in a convent. A lot of women chose that option, to live in a convent and become a Nun. That way they were able to access and acquire education and knowledge. A nun was the only career women can pursue at this time.  

       Soon after came the 19th century. Women’s struggle for equal rights began. Also, during this period, “male painters began to objectify the naked female body as never before.” (Guerilla Girls, 47) Thus the term “male gaze” was established and given meaning. Men simply created and viewed art with women being a naked object, for their pleasure. Although all of this was occurring, women also grew as artists and began to get more recognition for their works. The world was advancing with its new technology, and new tools made art production easier. The invention of the camera slightly threatened painters and their work because it would overtake the purpose of painters and paintings.

Work Cited

Chadwick, Whitney. Women, Art and Society. Thames and Hudson, 2015.

The Guerrilla Girls' Bedside Companion to the History of Western Art. Penguin 

http://www.sparknotes.com/history/european/renaissance1/section9.rhtml

https://www.bl.uk/the-middle-ages/articles/women-in-medieval-society

   

Gender Roles, Subject and Power

During the Middle Ages, European women were looked down upon by men and placed near the bottom of the societal scale. They were to obey their fathers and husbands, even as grown adults. Most women took on the duty of maintaining their households and caring for their children, but some roles did differ based on their social class. Wealthy woman had help cooking and cleaning from servants, which allowed them time to develop other skills, such as art and reading. Women in the middle class were allowed to assist the men in their family by helping them run their businesses and working in the fields. Women who lived in poverty had to maintain their living spaces and focus on their families needs as well.

Throughout the Renaissance, women made small steps into advancing their roles in society. Those in the upper class had a better chance at maintaining an education and using it to have a bigger part in their family businesses. Either way, women were not allowed to live independently. Those who did not marry or live with a male member of their family were forced to join a convent and received an education there instead. Although there were some benefits during the Renaissance, they didn’t last long as young women were to focus on their education until they married, therefore taking on the roles of a housewife and raising their children. Once they became widowed, a majority of wives had their husbands businesses taken away from them, as women were unable to have control in the work field at the time.

Madonna con bambino e quattro angeli by Plautilla Nelli.
This painting made during the Renaissance displays the role of women during that time, which involved taking care of their family first and finding their own time to focus on their education.

As time progressed, women were still considered inferior to men, but they were granted more freedom in education and work. During the Reformation, marriage had become more meaningful, as women had more help in the household from their husbands. Women also gained more experience and knowledge with art and literacy as they were expected to teach their children from a young age. In the 18th century, there was a change in agriculture which brought many wives and their families out of poverty and led to the Industrial Revolution where women worked away from home in cottages and factories, gaining more independence and financial freedom. In the 19th Century, women had the power to use their voice for the idea of equality. They became less traditional and protested for stronger roles in society. Throughout the centuries, female artists expressed their views and struggles of gender roles and sexism through their paintings as they were silenced by men during these times.

Mary Cassatt. Woman in Black at the Opera. 1880.

In Chapter 8, Louisa May Alcott highlighted the impressive artistry from Mary Cassatt, whom she believed was overlooked because of her femininity, stating, “...being very lively and and a woman of real genius, she will be a first-class light as soon as her pictures get a little circulated and known.” (Chadwick, 230) Her comments represent the struggles female artists faced from male expression, which gave them a hard time using their art for a career. Similar to this, artist Rosa Bonheur “often dressed in men’s clothes, although she maintained that she did it “not for originality’s sake, as too many women do, but simply to facilitate my work.” (The Guerrilla Girls, 47-48) Both female artists used their works to block out the power and sexist views of male artists by becoming “male artists” themselves, as Bonheur dressed masculine to draw the attention away from her and onto her work. Likewise, Cassatt painted women in a non-traditional manner (as shown above) and put her career as an artist first, rather than her personal life. This allowed them to showcase their paintings in a different light through the idea of gender roles and pave the way for other female artists.

Edouard Louis Dubufe, Portrait of Rosa Bonheur 1857. Although this is a self-portrait of Bonheur, it portrays her as a strong female, showcasing her interests in art and animals.

By Peter Merly

Works Cited:

1. The Guerrilla Girls’ Bedside Companion of the History of Western Art, Penguin Books, 1998.

2. Chadwick, Whitney. “Women, Art, And Society,” Fourth Edition. World of Art. 2007.

http://www.nytimes.com/library/magazine/millennium/m2/wolf-timeline.html

http://www.theartstory.org/movement-feminist-art.htm

Gender Roles, Subject and Power

Nohelia Olivas
Blog Post 2

The Middle Ages were a time where women had little to no role. Men were the superior gender and women had to obey and listen to everything they had. Women had no rights during this time period, they were owned by their fathers and then later married off and would be owned by their husbands.. “By the feudal legal system organized around the control of property, there is evidence that their lives, as those of men, were also shaped by economic and social forces outside ecclesiastic control, at least during the period of the early Middle Ages” (Chadwick 44). Although women had very few roles, depending on their economic status they were able to do certain stuff. For example, women that were on the lower end of the feudal system had to work to help their husbands and fathers. Contrast, to the noble women that had to maintain a status and remained at home with the children. For the most part women did not receive much education unless they were sent to convents and become nuns. Hildegard of Bingen was one of the few famous women from the Middle Ages. She wrote books on visionary theology and is also known for her work of “Scivas”. Women existed during this time to serve men and have children, they had no role in the world.

Going into the Renaissance era women had more opportunities to be more than just wives at home. “Noblewomen, as well as many regular workers in linen thread, took up the art of lace-making”(Chadwick 68). This gave women something else to do then just sit around at home and do nothing. Women also took the roles of women artist but their work was not taken serious like the male artist. Chadwick states, “Most of the highly skilled artisans were now men; women were relegated to areas that required fewer skills, or skills of a kind that could be easily transferred to new households upon marriage”(Chadwick 68). Although women were able to move up and had more opportunities, when it came to the art world they were looked down on and their work was not recognized like the male artist. “Artemisia Gentileschi was one of the first woman artist in the history of western art whose historical significance is unquestionable” (Cacoilo). Her painting of “Susanna and The Elders” is a different perspective from how her father paints a similar painting. Women and Male views are different and these paintings are an indication of how were viewed in the male eyes.

Women’s labor in the 19C was essential to the building of colonial America. Women were now more involved in the community and had more of a social life than ever. Young girls were able to get education and go to school to learn how to cook, clean, and take care of children and eventually their husbands. Women rights were just beginning to start and progress so women still had to obey and listen to their fathers, brothers and husbands but they had just started to make moves in changing the way they were viewed and treated. “Needlework and painting were considered appropriate handicrafts for women and during the first half of the century women are well represented among American folk artists” (Chadwick 205). The work that women did during this time period were important. Famous ex-slave Harriet Powers used needlework to tell stories of the bible. Her needlework were very detailed and eccentric. Women were not there yet with the rights but they were getting somewhere. They used their artwork to send out messages into the world.

The Guerrilla Girls' Beside Companion to the History Western Art. Penguin Books, 2006 

Chadwick, Whitney. Women, Art, and Society. Thames and Hudson 2012.

Women: Middle Ages, Renaissance, and 19C

Hortus Decliarum by Herrard of Landsberg

Women roles in society weren't always as open minded as they are today compared to the Middle Ages."Our knowledge about the daily lives and customs of women in the Middle Ages owes much to representations emphasizing their labor, as in a thirteenth-century manuscript illumination of a woman milking a cow" (Chadwick 43). Their roles were limited to home and family life. Men were dominant and perceived women as weak and unintelligent. Women didn't only assist their fathers or husbands with their jobs, they took part in working as well. Women were not only devoted to the Church. Joining convents meant those women were free from their daily lives of being inferior to men. Women who did join went on to create artwork called tapestry. Tapestry is threads woven into a thick fabric to create a design. The most significant tapestry created was called "The Bayeux Tapestry." It was created by women to tell the story of a conquest in England. The tapestry was appreciated by many but people failed to give credit to the women who put work into it. "Instead, the author assumes the tapestry to be the design of a single male genius who hired it out to insignificant sewers" (Guerrilla Girls 21). This shows the challenge women faced when it came to being recognized for their hard work. However, this was referenced in a portrait done by Herrard of Landsberg who was an abbess who was superior to her fellow nuns. In her "Hortus Decliarum," she portrayed the 60 nuns that were in the convent.  

"Portia Wounding her Thigh" by Elisabetta Sirani 1664

Following the Middle Ages came the Renaissance. Although it was a time of revival, women's roles didn't change all that drastically. They were typically housewives, similar to the Middle Ages. The Renaissance was referred to as a time of rebirth of arts, science, and intellectualism. "The whole system was of course closed to women. In most cities, women were barred from painters' guilds or academies(except for the lace and silk makers guilds" (Guerrilla Girls 29). Women could not work as an artist unless they were born into it. "The absence of women's names from the list of artists responsible for the 'renaissance' of Western culture in fifteenth-century Florence deserves careful scrutiny" (Chadwick 67). One of the challenges a Bolognese artist, Elisabeth Sirani, faced was the accusation of taking credit for work that her father had done. But of course, this wasn't true. Society was so threatened by having a female so successful in this field that they started to accuse her of stealing. But, when she started painting in public, the truth came out - that she did in fact paint by herself. A great example of her reference to this in her work was done in 1664, "Portia Wounding her Thigh." This painting depicts a young woman separating herself from the other women and doing something most women couldn't or wouldn't, wounding herself. What Sirani is trying to prove is that Portia is strong and knows how to take charge of her own life, and it shows her bravery because most women during this time would not wound themselves, rather they would remain 'lady-like' and proper. Also, holding a knife in such a way would be frowned upon by other men, but Sirani shows the bravery of Portia, which is arguably a reference to herself and her bravery. 

Edmonia Lewis "Forever Free" 1867

The 19th century woman had many similarities to the Middle Ages and Renaissance woman. They were expected to uphold the family, the house, and anything else that was in private while men were active in public life. But, women had begun to take a stand. Women took part in protests and political speeches which was considered 'unladylike.' Women did needlework, painting, textile weaving, and folk art. The industrial revolution was a time of technological advances. Before the art of photography could be taken over by men, women took it up. "Photography was great for women artist: because it was brand new, there was no canon for them to be excluded from. As a result, women helped define the practice and continue to do so today" (Guerrilla Girls 47). Prominent women were introduced during this time, one of which included Edmonia Lewis. The challenge she faced was the accusation of poisoning her two roommates who were white. Although she was acquitted, she was still accused for other minor crimes and was still suffering from a trauma. A clear reference to this was in her sculpture, "Forever Free" 1867. It portrayed a man and woman breaking free from shackles which symbolized never going back to old times and that slavery was over. The 19th century also brought about Impressionism which was art in the form of thin brush strokes and emphasis on light. "The emergence of a new, middle class buying public also played a not inconsiderable role in the dissemination of their work" (Chadwick 213). A notable impressionist was Mary Cassat. In her painting "Mother and Child" (1905), she uses key features such as the awkward angle and the chair being uplifted and forward. Through impressionism, women had the ability to capture what they wanted and exactly how they wanted to present it.

Work Cited 

http://www.theartstory.org/artist-cassatt-mary-artworks.htm
https://www.biography.com/people/mary-cassatt-9240820
https://www.famsf.org/press-room/women-impressionists-berthe-morisot-mary-cassatt-eva-gonzal-s-marie-bracquemond
http://www2.cedarcrest.edu/academic/eng/lfletcher/shrew/acloud.htm

Gender Roles, subject and power

Hildegaurd of Bingen; Scivias, 1442-52

Jenna Arvelo

    The Middle Ages was not particularly a welcoming era for women kind anywhere, with that being said it’s safe to say it must have been incredibly vexing to have lived as a woman of the Middle Ages. To be of the fairer sex in this period of time meant that you virtually had no rights or freedom for themselves. They could not own land, they could not earn money, they could not own anything really and were basically owned by either their fathers or their husbands. As the Guerrilla Girls quote: “Women were the virtual prisoners to the men in their lives” [Guerrilla Girls; chapter 2, page 19] The role of the Middle Age woman was of course centered around marriage and motherhood literally as soon as a girls’ body could produce children. Meaning their childhoods were often abruptly cut short because of their gender assigned obligations. It also didn’t help that the Bible basically set these women up to take the blame for the fall of all mankind. This was also often the justification for the belittlement of women from all walks of life.
   Although, women did have roles in which they could be unshackled from the burdens of domestication. Nun-hood was the perfect way women could be educated, avoid marriage. Yet the Catholic Church was still none the less a patriarchal system that deemed women inferior; as Chadwick quotes: “The Church’s hierarchical organization reinforced the class distinctions in society; it’s patriarch dogma included a full set of theories on the natural inferiority of women which can be traced back to Ancient Greece and the Old Testament.” [Chadwick; chapter one, page 44] Although the boundaries were clearly distinguished for women nun-hood was again an opportunity for an education and to be free of the societal predators that were the men trying to court them, it was a system they could also rise to power within. One of the best and most impressive examples of this is Herrad of Landsberg who held immense power and presence for a women of her time and dedicated Hortus Deliciarum to the nuns of her convent. A passage from from Chadwick that conveys this; “Herrad, who through the grace of God is abbess of the church on the Hohenburg, here addresses the sweet maidens of Christ....I was thinking of your happiness when like a bee guided by the inspiring God I drew from many flowers of sacred and philosophic writing this book called Garden of Delights; and I have put it together to the praise of Christ and the church, and your enjoyment, as though into a sweet honeycomb....”. [Chadwick; chapter 1, page 56] Another amazing women who rose to power through the convent was Hildegard of Bingen who also created manuscripts and was highly revered and respected. 

Artemisia Gentileschi; Self-Portrait as the Allegory of Painting, 1630's

   As the centuries rolled onward, the roles Women stayed restricted though many of the advances of the times redefined the ability to accomplish degrees of success in the art field for women. For example, If a woman had a father who happened to be an artist, It was more likely this woman would be educated in this art field and could salvage a career out of skills learned from her father. Such is the case with Artemisia Gentileschi and much later Rosa Bonheur. Artemisia Particularly made feminist commentaries within her paintings that often contrasted and completely opposed what even her father was depicting for women. She was opposing the male gaze By portraying herself as an active artist and other women as capable, knowledgeable, and strong. It was through their art that these women could comment and even criticize the restrictions placed on their gender by directly challenging the male gaze through their very own female gaze. Though these advances were being made women’s art was still hardly being taken very seriously being reduced to only paint ‘feminine subjects’ such as flowers and still lives in being excluded from viewing the male nudes. And again women later countered this by taking their lives in their own hands and forming strongholds of women who banded together to create a safe haven for like-minded women sculptors in Rome. This being said, given the opportunity to exploit anyway to advance and prove themselves equals; women stole these opportunities anyway they could and created a space for themselves though not easily. History has still forgotten many of these women who fought for this same recognition that was much more accessible to men and died unacknowledged. 


                                                               Work Cited 
~The Guerrilla Girls' Bedside Companion to the History of Western Art by The Guerrilla Girls

~Women, Art, and Society by Whitney Chadwick (4th edition, 2007) Thames and Hudson world of art

Middle Ages in Europe- Women

 Savanna Santiago

The Middle Ages were a challenging time for women. Social and economic values were placed upon them that made life very limited for them in terms of work, hobbies and even consent of marriage. As in earlier eras, women were expected to cook, clean and find a suitor as early as the tender age of 15. Staying home at the house and having children were all women were 'capable' of doing. As far as men were concerned, women had no place nor ability to engage in intellectual activities/subjects such as politics, literature and art about important topics like war. And while women were allowed to paint nude women whenever, wherever, women painting nude men in the flesh was unheard of. However what wasn't unheard of was girls getting married off at extremely young ages. Marriage was practically mandatory and always arranged in the Middle Ages. However one exception for women to avoid marriage was to become a nun and join a nunnery. Women would send their 15- 16 year old daughters off to nunneries in hopes that it would be better than the abuse and injustice they would face on a day to day basis with their significantly older husbands to be. To join the nunneries, these young girls and women had to vow to celibacy and poverty. The pros outweighed the cons for their circumstances because although they had to poor monetary things, they were rich in other things that were more valuable than any material object; knowledge and education. Nuns were able learn how to write, paint, and read--all things women were limited, if offered at all, married in the outside world. Of course religion was embedded and the main focus in all art and literature at this time period. One of those nuns who used her knowledge of reading and paintings to create art was Hildegard of Bingen. She claimed that God spoke to her and received visions from him which prompted her to draw the 1142 piece “Scivias”. She said that she was "nothing more than a feather on God's breathe" (Chadwick 59). However, her work "derived from a sense of female otherness in relation to male authority and a vision of women being complementary to men" (Chadwick 59).

Hildegard of Bingen, "Scivias" c. 1152

Thankfully, during the Renaissance period (starting in the 1300’s), things began to shift. Women began to push for equality and demanded change. Women were allowed to paint and get a head start if they came from prominent artist families, however. Still, it was a step in the right direction because at least now some women were able to channel their artistry into other forms other than knitting. Christine De Pizan is a prime example of a woman born into lucky circumstances. Her father was an artist who believed in education of all and he taught her everything she knew about art. De Pazin was also the first woman to make a living out of writing. This was a rarity for a woman because literature was a scholarly activity in which was believed women could not partake in. She was very courageous and outspoken arguing against sexist scholar during her time. With her experience and knowledge of literature, she wrote the “Book of the City of Ladies” that was “an entire city populated by the bravest, strongest most virtuous women from history” (Guerrilla Girls, 26). One of paintings from the book is “The Bricklayers”. It shows women using bricks to build a wall and taking care of themselves in their utopia--no help from men required.

Christine De Pizan, "Bricklayers" from The City of Ladies c. 1405

Artemisia Gentileschi was also an artist of the Renaissance era. She painted “Judith Slaying Holofernes”. It depicts Judith’s maidservant helping Judith decapitate the king with a sword. Both women are shown looking like they know exactly what they are doing showing strength and certainty. The painting shows a lot of blood from the decapitation while “many artists showing Judith looking away as she cuts off Holofernes’ head. They think a woman could not bear to look while doing such a deed” (Guerrilla Girls, 37). Judith are looking straight at the king while decapitating him with no look of remorse showing them as strong. Women were not only painting but painting gruesome topics that were considered reserved for men. The Renaissance meant 'rebirth' and that was what women did through their art. Through their paintings they were able to be reborn and not be restricted into painting religious topics like they were in the Middle Ages. The male gaze was still very prevalent during the Renaissance but women such as Artemisia made paintings to try and combat this by showing women in a strong way to try and combat this by showing women in a strong way.

 Artemisia Gentileschi, "Judith Slaying Holofernes" c. 1620

 

The 17th and 18th century was where many women artists such as the Dutch Judith Leyster painted still lifes of botany, insects, and fruits. Lyester actually sat and inspected and observed these insects and their body parts, shapes and size to paint them.


In the 19th century, the role of women changed as they were needed in building America up. Women began to sew, do needlework and continue to paint. However sculpting made an appearance in the 19th century with women like Harriet Hosmer. She was an American sculptor who flocked to Italy because her style of neoclassicism was popular there at the time. Her marble sculpture "Zenobia in Chains" was very successful. Zenobia is in a drape and is putting all of her weight on one leg which gives the illusion that she is moving. It symbolizes struggling women in a, although the 1800's, still patriarchal society.

Harriet Hosmer, "Zenobia in Chains" c. 1859

Works Cited 

Chadwick, Whitney. Women, Art, and Society. Thames and Hudson 2012.

The Guerrilla Girls' Beside Companion to the History Western Art. Penguin Books, 2006

Bovey, Alixe. “Women in Medieval Society.” The British Library, The British Library, 17 Jan. 2014, www.bl.uk/the-middle-ages/articles/women-in-medieval-society.