It’s a Fine Art: Women in a Man’s World
T
he literary world is bursting with female authors and poets who have shaped the way we think and see the world. This is true, too, of the visual arts. Female artists have been at the forefront of movements and reactions throughout art history, from Artemisia Gentileschi to Mary Cassatt. But women have not always had an easy time, making their way in what is already a competitive and difficult industry. The appalling treatment of Gentileschi is only one example of the oppression of successful women in history. Whilst Cassatt was privileged enough to enjoy an education and a career, her gender prohibited her from entering the social spheres that her male counterparts frequented; the bars, cafés and nightclubs that were the centre for artistic discussion amongst the Impressionists were not accessible for an upperclass woman .
James Millichamp Head of Art
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