By Her Hand
Updated: Oct 20
So where were we? Oh yes-women as portrayed in art. Women have been portrayed in art since time immemorial: as The Queen, The Mother, The Seductress, and The Muse. In my own art, I represent the feminine quite a bit, as can be seen in paintings such as Moon Child and, most recently, the aptly named Music is the Muse (Mistress).
But none of this says anything about how women see themselves as subjects of art, how they choose to be represented, and not least of all, the fact that they are often the creators of that art. Who better to answer this than the artists themselves? Frida Kahlo is credited with having said
“I am my own muse. I am the subject I know best."
As in so many things, women were considered inferior, and art was no exception. And I say 'inferior' with caution and a caveat; many who assumed that art was not the natural province of women did not mean this in a demeaning or derogatory way. Most truly believed this. However, this belief didn't mean that they weren't terribly wrong. And nowhere was this clearly evident than in the case of Artemisia Gentileschi. When I discovered her beautiful work I was immediately a fan.
Born on July 8 1590(3) in the Papal states of Rome, her father and fellow artist Orazio Gentileschi likewise recognized his daughter's talent and set her up alongside him in his workshop.
She took inspiration from her father, who worked in the style of Caravaggio, but soon developed a distinctive style of her own.
She also endured immense trauma to be taken seriously as an artist. At the age of 18 she was raped by Agostino Tassi, an artist who was working with her father at the time. After a lengthy trail her honor was upheld, and Gentileschi appeared to draw on the experience as she produced such works as Susanna and the Elders and Judith beheading Holofernes.
Not only did she endure this, she went on to become a successful artist in her own right, eventually enjoying the patronage of the Medici Family and the court culture of Florence at that time, despite the art world being male dominated. She was so confident in her skill that she said in one letter to a patron who doubted her talent,
“My illustrious lordship, I'll show you what a woman can do.”
Frida Kahlo is another woman who took artistic power into her own hand. She was attracted to art at an early age, but after being seriously injured in a bus accident at the age of 18, she began to paint in earnest during her long convalescence. By using a special made easel so that she could paint while in bed, and a mirror, she began to paint self-portraits. Of this, she is said to have given the above quote.
As if the bus accident wasn't tragedy enough, she also contracted polio at an early age. Before her injuries from the bus accident, she had dreamed of being a physician. Her father Guillermo Kahlo, himself a photographer and painter then encouraged her to develop her artistic ability.
So much can be said of Kahlo's art that I could fill yet another article. Her surrealist style captured my attention early on, which is why she has garnered a spot as one of my personally most inspiring artists.
Much like Frida Kahlo, this list would be incomplete without mentioning Georgia O'Keeffe. She is renowned for her portrayals of the natural world, particularly floral subjects, rolling hills, and desert landscapes. Often referred to as the "Mother of American modernism," she may not have greatly influenced my own artistic perspective, but her significance as an artist is undeniable. She resisted being categorized as a "woman artist," opting instead to define herself simply as an "artist" and to carve her own path.
Her style is characterized by 'abstractions', close-up of flowers and other organic forms. Her flowers were said by Paul Rosenfeld, an influential American journalist, to be metaphors for the female body, a claim which O'Keeffe denied.
That particular view that O'Keeffe's flowers represent female parts has been criticized as being sexist. I must admit though, I long held that view myself on initially viewing O'Keeffe's art before I even knew her name. Perhaps this idea is indeed a sexist one, but there is another possibility. It's entirely possible for abstract forms to evoke association with such anatomical shapes without the the artist's intention.
O'Keeffe also rejected the idea that she she was a radical feminist, claiming gender to be "irrelevant" when it came to making art.
I'd like to end this article with a discussion of an artist that holds particular interest to me, not just for her art, but outside it as well. Anna Mary Robertson Moses, better known as Grandma Moses, was an American folk artist who began painting at the age 78, when her embroidery became too painful because of arthritis. Her embroidery and early embroidery is said to have resembled Currier and Ives prints, with her later work said to be reminiscent of Pieter Bruegel the Elder.
Moses is regarded as a 'primitive' artist due to her absence of formal training. However, my decision to include Moses on the list isn't solely based on her art. I selected her because of her age. Our culture often prioritizes youthful appearances over age and wisdom. Being in late middle age myself, I understand the challenges of confronting ageism.
Moses was prolific in her work; it's said that her output was over 1, 500 canvases over three decades (she died at 101!) Doing the math, that comes out to one completed canvas per week for thirty years. Claude Monet had a similar output.
What the example of Moses says to me is that as long as life remains, it's not too late to pursue your goals. I've heard men no older than fifty say that it all was over and that it was too late for them to do anything different. Our youth-oriented culture enforces the idea that past a certain age, we're only good for the rocking chair. Clearly, Moses defied that notion.
So here we are, with the example of four outstanding women who refused to surrender their goals. Artemisia Gentileschi worked hard to make her mark in a field where people doubted women's talents. Frida Kahlo made her life and identity the focus of her art. Georgia O'Keeffe created a unique style that defied simple labels. Grandma Moses showed that you can be creative and successful, no matter how late you start.
Their stories show us that women haven't just been the ones posing in front of someone else's artwork. They've been the ones with the brush, crafting the picture, and choosing what gets showcased.
Maybe that's the big takeaway here. Art isn't about gender, sticking to the rules, or being a certain age. Anyone who wants to create can do it.
Sometimes, you just need the guts to start.
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