Women Artists

In 1971, in an essay that has now become one of the touchstones of feminist art history, Linda Nochlin raised the question heard round the world: “Why have there been no great women artists?” Since the 1970s, as a result of this kind of consciousness-raising, the feminist discourse around art has expanded, addressing forms of activism, the idea of a feminist aesthetic, the female body, sexuality, and representation more largely. The reframing of female contributions to the history of art is still ongoing, and this new addition to the Art Essentials series draws attention to some of its key dimensions.Focusing on fifty diverse women artists from Artemisia Gentileschi through Judy Chicago, Ana Mendieta, and the Guerrilla Girls to Barbara Kruger, Cindy Sherman, and Mona Hatoum, this book equips readers with an understanding of feminist art, as well as an appreciation of its most important figures. This latest addition to the Art Essentials series documents women artists in context to offer readers a rich understanding of key female artists from the Baroque to the present day.

1. Introduction 2. Breaking Ground (born between 1550 and 1850) 3. Pioneers of the Avant-Garde (born between 1860 and 1899) 4. Triumphs and Tribulations (born between 1900 and 1925) 5. Challenging Stereotypes (born between 1926 and 1940) 6. Contemporary Views (born between 1942 and 1985)