9 Books on Art History With a Feminist Perspective
Discover 9 feminist art history books that will inspire you.
Unfortunately, the role of women has been relegated to the background for practically the entire history of art. In the great museums of the world, the canvases hanging on the walls are mostly by men. Haven't there been women artists throughout history? Yes, there have been, but they have been hidden behind the "anonymous" or not allowed to occupy the space they deserve, simply because they are women.
With the rise of the feminist movement, little by little (very little by little), the role of women in the history of art has been growing. There is still a long way to go, but from here we want to do our bit with this list of feminist books (in English and Spanish) in the field of art.
Neither muses nor submissives, by Helena Sotoca
Helena Sotoca is the creator of Femme Sapiens, an Instagram account that traces the history of art with a gender perspective and a very shrewd humor. With irony, satire and a feminist point of view, the author reflects on issues such as art, women, and their role in culture, the canons of beauty or female sexuality, in a way that is both unsubmissive and didactic.
Feminism and Latin American Art: Stories of artists who emancipated their bodies, by Andrea Giunta
Can the art world remain outside the patriarchal regime and is this field free of glass ceilings, mansplaining, and gender stereotypes? The answer won't surprise you: No. Women have fewer prizes, less presence in exhibitions and less presence in the art world. Women have fewer awards, less presence in exhibitions and occupy, with few exceptions, subordinate places in art histories. This book presents a theoretical and quantitative overview of the female scene, in the visual arts and looks at the intervention of artists who contributed to building an emancipatory imagination in Latin America.
The Story of Art Without Men, by Katy Hessel
Katy Hessel, art historian and founder of the podcast @thegreatwomenartists, takes a look back through this book at various artists throughout history. From her, you will learn about the impressive paintings of the Renaissance painter Sofonisba Anguissola (one of the few women in the permanent collection of the Prado Museum), the radical works of Harriet Powers in the 19th century or the story of Baroness Von Freytag-Loringhoven, who invented the concept of found art long before Duchamp. She will also transport you back to the Dutch Golden Age, introduce you to the work of post-war Latin American women artists, and bring you closer to the women who are defining art today.
Women, Art and Society, by Whitney Chadwick
This book takes a journey through the history of art, focusing on women artists and analyzing the reasons for their lack of recognition. In its pages, the book takes us back to the work of medieval nuns who illustrated manuscripts, the life of Marietta Robusti, illegitimate daughter and faithful companion of Tintoretto, or the wanderings of Judith Leyster, whose paintings were considered to be those of Frans Hals, among many other exciting stories from the history of women's art.
Reclaiming Female Agency: Feminist Art History After Postmodernism, by Norma Broude and Mary D. Garrard
We move on to feminist art books in English with the third volume in a series of anthologies by editors Norma Broude and Mary D. Garrard, through which they challenge art history from a feminist perspective. On this occasion, the authors take 23 essays focusing on artistic epochs spanning from the Renaissance to the present and analyze them from a feminist point of view.
The Reckoning: Women Artists of the New Millennium, by Eleanor Heartney, Helaine Posner, Nancy Princenthal and Sue Scott
Focusing on 24 of the most acclaimed international female artists born after 1960, the authors divide the book into four sections: Bad Girls, which features artists whose work represents an assault on conventional notions of gender and racial difference; History Lessons, which offers reflections in the context of history and globalization; Spellbound, which focuses on women's embrace of the irrational, the subjective, and the surreal; and Domestic Disturbances, which addresses women's conflicted relationship to home, family, and security.
Women, Art, and Power and Other Essays, by Linda Nochlin
Why have there not been great women artists? This book collects seven emblematic essays on female artists and women in art history, written by a pioneer in the field. Its content reflects the author's broad knowledge and cultural perspective. It is a valuable resource for students and teachers of art history and women's studies, and a very enriching read for anyone interested in the subject.
Women Artists: An Illustrated History, by Nancy G. Heller
If you are looking for something lighter where the text is accompanied by images of the works of women artists, this is a good option. Women Artists: An Illustrated History reviews works of art from different disciplines and artists from around the world, analyzing the work itself, but also telling you the story of these women and their trajectory in the art world.
Feminism and Contemporary Art: The Revolutionary Power of Women's Laughter, by Jo Anna Isaak
This book describes the impact of women artists in the contemporary art world. Jo Anna Isaak discusses the work of women such as Cindy Sherman, Barbara Kruger, Jenny Holcer, Jeanne Silverthorne or the Guerilla Girls, from their early struggles to their ultimate impact, analyzing their creations as works of art and as milestones in the history of the development of feminist theory.
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