♀️Feminist Art History Unit 4 – Women Artists and the Academy (1700-1900)

Historical Context

• During the 18th and 19th centuries, the art world was dominated by male artists and the patriarchal structure of society
• Women faced significant barriers to entry in the art world due to societal expectations and gender roles that confined them to domestic spheres
• The Age of Enlightenment in the 18th century brought about new ideas of individualism and human rights, which gradually influenced attitudes towards women's roles in society
• The Industrial Revolution in the 19th century led to changes in social structures and increased opportunities for women in education and the workforce
• The rise of the middle class and the emergence of a new art market created new opportunities for women artists to sell their work and gain recognition
• The feminist movement in the late 19th century advocated for women's rights and challenged traditional gender roles, paving the way for greater acceptance of women in the arts

Key Women Artists

• Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun (1755-1842), a French portrait painter who was one of the most successful women artists of her time
  • Known for her portraits of the French aristocracy, including Queen Marie Antoinette
  • Became a member of the French Academy in 1783, one of only four women accepted into the institution before the French Revolution
• Angelica Kauffman (1741-1807), a Swiss-born Austrian Neoclassical painter who was one of the most prominent women artists of the 18th century
  • Known for her history paintings and portraits, which were highly sought after by aristocratic patrons across Europe
  • Was a founding member of the Royal Academy in London in 1768
• Adélaïde Labille-Guiard (1749-1803), a French miniaturist and portrait painter who was a prominent figure in the French art world during the late 18th century
  • Known for her portraits of the French royal family and aristocracy, as well as her advocacy for women's rights and education in the arts
  • Was admitted to the French Academy in 1783 alongside Vigée Le Brun
• Rosa Bonheur (1822-1899), a French artist who was one of the most famous women painters of the 19th century
  • Known for her realistic depictions of animals and rural life, which challenged traditional gender roles and expectations
  • Was the first woman to be awarded the Legion of Honour, the highest French order of merit, in 1865
• Mary Cassatt (1844-1926), an American Impressionist painter who was one of the leading figures of the movement in the late 19th century
  • Known for her intimate portraits of women and children, which celebrated the domestic sphere and challenged traditional gender roles
  • Was the only American artist to exhibit with the Impressionists in Paris

Barriers to Entry

• Women were often excluded from formal art education and training, which was considered inappropriate for their gender
  • Art academies and workshops were typically male-only spaces, and women were not allowed to attend life drawing classes or study from nude models
  • Women who did receive artistic training often did so through private lessons or informal apprenticeships with male artists
• Women's artistic abilities were often dismissed or trivialized by male critics and patrons, who viewed their work as inferior or amateurish
  • Women's art was often categorized as "feminine" or "decorative," and was not taken seriously as fine art
  • Women artists were often expected to conform to traditional gender roles and subject matter, such as still lifes, landscapes, and portraits of women and children
• Women faced significant social and cultural barriers to pursuing careers as professional artists
  • Marriage and motherhood were seen as the primary roles for women, and pursuing a career in the arts was often viewed as incompatible with these expectations
  • Women who did pursue artistic careers often faced criticism and disapproval from family, friends, and society at large
• Women artists had limited opportunities for exhibition and patronage compared to their male counterparts
  • Major art exhibitions and salons were often closed to women artists, or limited their participation to certain categories or genres
  • Women artists often had to rely on private commissions or sales to support themselves financially, as they were excluded from many public art markets and institutions

Academic Training and Education

• Women's access to formal art education was limited during the 18th and 19th centuries, as most art academies and workshops were male-only spaces
• Some women were able to receive private lessons or informal training from male artists, often through family connections or patronage
  • For example, Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun received training from her father, a pastel artist, and later studied with prominent painters such as Gabriel François Doyen and Joseph Vernet
• A few women were able to gain admission to prestigious art academies, such as the Royal Academy in London or the French Academy in Paris, but their numbers were very small compared to male students
  • Angelica Kauffman and Mary Moser were two of the founding members of the Royal Academy in London in 1768, but they were not allowed to attend life drawing classes or participate fully in the academy's activities
• Women who did receive formal art education often faced discrimination and harassment from male students and teachers
  • For example, the French artist Marie-Gabrielle Capet was expelled from the French Academy in 1783 after complaining about the behavior of male students who were harassing her during life drawing classes
• Some women artists sought out alternative forms of education and training, such as studying with other women artists or attending private academies that were more welcoming to female students
  • For example, the French artist Adélaïde Labille-Guiard established her own studio and took on female students, providing them with a supportive and inclusive learning environment

Artistic Styles and Themes

• Women artists of the 18th and 19th centuries worked in a variety of artistic styles and genres, including Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Realism, and Impressionism
• Many women artists specialized in portraiture, which was considered an appropriate genre for women due to its focus on the human figure and its association with domesticity and femininity
  • Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun and Adélaïde Labille-Guiard were both renowned for their portraits of the French aristocracy, which combined technical skill with a keen sense of character and personality
• Some women artists challenged traditional gender roles and expectations by depicting subjects that were considered masculine or unconventional, such as animals, landscapes, or historical scenes
  • Rosa Bonheur was known for her realistic depictions of animals and rural life, which challenged the notion that women artists should focus on delicate or feminine subjects
• Women artists also used their work to explore themes of gender, identity, and social justice, often through the lens of their own experiences and perspectives
  • Mary Cassatt's paintings of women and children celebrated the domestic sphere and the bonds of motherhood, while also challenging traditional gender roles and expectations
  • The British artist Barbara Bodichon used her paintings and writings to advocate for women's rights and education, and to challenge the limitations placed on women's roles in society

Notable Works and Achievements

• Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun's portrait of Queen Marie Antoinette (1778) is one of her most famous works, and helped to establish her reputation as a leading portrait painter of the French court
• Angelica Kauffman's history painting "Cornelia Pointing to her Children as Her Treasures" (1785) was highly praised for its classical style and moral message, and helped to establish her as one of the leading women artists of the Neoclassical period
• Adélaïde Labille-Guiard's portrait of the French chemist Antoine Lavoisier and his wife (1788) is considered a masterpiece of 18th-century portraiture, and showcases her skill in capturing the personalities and relationships of her subjects
• Rosa Bonheur's painting "The Horse Fair" (1852-55) was a massive success when it was exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1853, and helped to establish her reputation as one of the leading animal painters of the 19th century
  • The painting, which depicts a bustling horse market in Paris, was praised for its realistic detail and dynamic composition, and challenged traditional notions of what subjects were appropriate for women artists to depict
• Mary Cassatt's painting "The Child's Bath" (1893) is one of her most famous works, and exemplifies her focus on the intimate moments of domestic life and the bonds between mothers and children
  • The painting, which depicts a mother tenderly bathing her child, was praised for its sensitive portrayal of a private moment and its celebration of the beauty and dignity of motherhood

Impact on Art World

• The success and visibility of women artists like Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun, Angelica Kauffman, and Rosa Bonheur helped to challenge traditional gender roles and expectations in the art world, and paved the way for greater acceptance and recognition of women artists in the 19th and 20th centuries
• The admission of women like Vigée Le Brun and Labille-Guiard to the French Academy in 1783 was a significant milestone in the history of women's participation in the art world, and helped to establish the legitimacy and professionalism of women artists
• The popularity and critical acclaim of works by women artists like Kauffman and Bonheur helped to expand the range of subjects and styles that were considered appropriate for women to pursue, and challenged the notion that women's art was inherently inferior or limited
• The advocacy and activism of women artists like Mary Cassatt and Barbara Bodichon helped to raise awareness of the challenges and inequalities faced by women in the art world, and contributed to the growing feminist movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries
• The success and visibility of women artists in the 18th and 19th centuries helped to inspire and encourage future generations of women to pursue careers in the arts, and laid the groundwork for the feminist art movement of the 1960s and 70s

Legacy and Modern Perspectives

• The contributions and achievements of women artists in the 18th and 19th centuries have been increasingly recognized and celebrated in recent decades, thanks in part to the efforts of feminist art historians and curators
• Major exhibitions and retrospectives of work by artists like Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun, Angelica Kauffman, and Rosa Bonheur have helped to raise public awareness of their significance and influence, and have challenged traditional narratives of art history that have marginalized or ignored women artists
• The stories and experiences of women artists in the 18th and 19th centuries have also been explored in popular culture and media, such as the 2012 film "The Invisible Woman" which depicted the life of the French artist Marie-Gabrielle Capet
• The legacy of women artists in the 18th and 19th centuries continues to inspire and influence contemporary women artists, who often draw on their experiences and perspectives to challenge and subvert traditional gender roles and expectations in the art world
  • For example, the contemporary artist Judy Chicago's installation "The Dinner Party" (1974-79) pays tribute to important women throughout history, including several artists from the 18th and 19th centuries, and celebrates their contributions and achievements
• The ongoing efforts to research, document, and celebrate the lives and works of women artists from the 18th and 19th centuries reflect a growing recognition of the importance of diversity and inclusion in the art world, and a commitment to challenging and expanding traditional narratives of art history