Tamara de ?empicka, Young Lady with Gloves (1930)
As part on an ongoing monthly column for LUX, artnet?s Vice President Sophie Neuendorf outlines a brief history of women artists, and discusses their recent rise to prominence
Sophie Neuendorf
We define ourselves, as nations and individuals, mainly through our respective cultures. Since the stone age, art has been a signpost for humanity, and a reflection of history and the zeitgeist. Over the past few years, we?ve often been amazed by the discoveries made by archaeologists and what these tell us about generations past and how humanity has evolved since.
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Artists were first commissioned to illustrate the word of God for those unable to read and since then, art has evolved to not only depict religious or mythological scenes, but also the joys and perils of everyday life. Especially in Italy, France, and Spain, prominent political, royal, and influential families commissioned artists to portray their lives for posterity. However, the artists receiving public recognition for their contribution to the documentation of culture, have until, very recently, only been male. But how can an accurate portrayal of humanity take place when women (who make up half of the world?s population) are marginalised or ignored"
Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun, Self-Portrait
Paying a historical debt, the contribution of women to the canon has only been recognised in recent years. The first documented fem...