Art HERstory a study of women in art Perspectives in art Milito

How are women portrayed in art? Idealized Beautiful & perfected Godlike As A Muse Featured the female form Women in the nude Motherly Often highlighted aspects of motherhood What else do you notice? ______________________________________

How do our views on women differ? Men’s Portrayal Women's Portrayal _____________________________________ _____________________________________

Where are the women? Women’s hobbies / ambitions were based on her husbands permission Women in general were expected take care of the children & home Poor women & widows would have had to work on top of these duties Creative endeavors would have to be fitted around obligations

Progress for Art NOT Women Up to the 18th century, fine arts became increasingly respectable accomplishment of refined women, BUT… Most universities wouldn’t accept women due to “moral principle” Apprenticeships generally weren’t offered to women Private training was acceptable but expensive Often only passed down through families & close social circles

Not Taken Seriously Hobby of Accomplished Women Aesthetically Pleasing & Decorative Often Limited By Society Undervalued

A woman made that? Overlooked Underestimated Uncredited Some would use male pseudonym to be taken seriously & sell more art Underestimated Viewers were in disbelief that a woman could posses such talent Uncredited Mistaken for similar male artists of the era

Boys Club There were many great women artist’s that simply couldn’t break the glass ceiling Women’s art has often been overlooked in serious galleries / salons Refused the same opportunities in the art world men Constrained to “proper” art Women were to draw livestock rather than male model for figure drawing because that would be “improper” Content was expected to be beautiful

Arts & Crafts Functional Crafts Work was often not considered “ART” (textiles, pottery, jewelry, etc.) Work was often not considered “ART” Passed down through generations

Decorative Art & Fine Art There is an arbitrary separation of decorative art & fine art Decorative art doesn’t contribute to the function, while fine art serves no function at all Hard to draw the line between the two We love them the same & keep them around simply because they are visually appealing Fine art gets all the praise & attention & is worth millions of dollars Decorative arts are shrugged off & nearly dropped from art history

Behind the Scenes Applied Arts Women often worked in design & production uncredited

“Feminine” Arts Fashion Makeup Hairstyling Changed & reflected culture throughout history Women have always been major contributors, but have been influenced by men’s approval

Women’s Issues Social Progress & Equality Gender Roles & Biases Women’s Health, Aging & Beauty Motherhood