🎩Nineteenth Century Art Unit 13 – Women Artists in the 19th Century

Historical Context

• 19th century marked significant social and cultural changes that impacted women's roles and opportunities
• Industrial Revolution led to increased urbanization and shifting gender roles as women entered the workforce
• Rise of middle class and leisure time allowed some women to pursue artistic education and careers
• Victorian era values emphasized domesticity and limited women's public roles, creating challenges for female artists
• Women's rights movements (suffrage) emerged, advocating for greater equality and opportunities
• Salons and exhibitions began to showcase works by female artists, providing platforms for recognition
• Access to artistic training remained limited, with women often excluded from formal academies and apprenticeships

Key Figures and Movements

• Rosa Bonheur (1822-1899), French painter known for realistic animal paintings and breaking gender norms
• Berthe Morisot (1841-1895), French Impressionist painter who depicted domestic scenes and women's lives
  • Founding member of the Impressionist movement and exhibited regularly in their exhibitions
• Mary Cassatt (1844-1926), American Impressionist painter renowned for her intimate depictions of women and children
  • Played a key role in introducing Impressionism to American audiences
• Elizabeth Thompson (Lady Butler) (1846-1933), British painter known for her military scenes and historical accuracy
• Impressionism, a movement characterized by loose brushwork, vivid colors, and capturing fleeting moments of light
  • Several prominent female Impressionists, including Morisot, Cassatt, and Eva Gonzalès
• Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, a British movement that sought to revive the detailed, naturalistic style of Italian Renaissance art
  • Women artists like Elizabeth Siddal and Marie Spartali Stillman were associated with the movement

Artistic Techniques and Styles

• Realism, a style that aimed to depict subjects truthfully and accurately without idealization
  • Rosa Bonheur's detailed animal paintings exemplified realist techniques
• Impressionism emphasized capturing the changing effects of light, using visible brushstrokes and pure colors
  • Berthe Morisot and Mary Cassatt adapted Impressionist techniques to depict women's domestic lives
• Plein air painting, the practice of painting outdoors to capture natural light and atmosphere
• Pastel work gained popularity among female artists for its portability and soft, blendable qualities
  • Mary Cassatt and Eva Gonzalès created notable works in pastel
• Watercolor painting, a medium that allowed for spontaneity and translucency
  • Used by artists like Elizabeth Murray and Helen Allingham to depict landscapes and botanical subjects
• Academic style, characterized by precise drawing, smooth brushwork, and historical or mythological subjects
  • Some women artists, like Elizabeth Gardner Bouguereau, received academic training and worked in this style

Themes and Subject Matter

• Domestic scenes and family life were common subjects for women artists, reflecting their social roles and experiences
  • Mary Cassatt's paintings of mothers and children exemplified this theme
• Portraits, particularly of women and children, allowed female artists to showcase their skills and gain commissions
• Landscapes and nature, often depicted in a more intimate or personal manner compared to male artists
  • Helen Allingham's watercolor cottage scenes and gardens were popular and widely reproduced
• Floral still lifes and botanical illustrations, considered appropriate subjects for women artists
  • Artists like Clara Peeters and Rachel Ruysch were renowned for their detailed floral paintings
• Social and political commentary, as some women artists used their work to address issues like poverty, war, and women's rights
  • Käthe Kollwitz's prints and drawings depicted the struggles of working-class women and the impacts of war

Challenges and Barriers

• Limited access to formal artistic education, as women were often excluded from academies and apprenticeships
  • Some women artists, like Rosa Bonheur, had to seek private instruction or learn from family members
• Social expectations and gender roles that discouraged women from pursuing professional careers
  • Women artists were often expected to prioritize domestic duties and faced criticism for working outside the home
• Lack of recognition and opportunities to exhibit their work in major salons and exhibitions
  • Women's artwork was often judged differently and considered inferior to men's
• Financial challenges, as women artists often received lower prices for their work and had fewer patrons
• Balancing artistic pursuits with family responsibilities and societal expectations
  • Many women artists, like Berthe Morisot and Mary Cassatt, remained unmarried or had to navigate motherhood and career
• Prejudice and discrimination within the art world, with women's abilities and contributions often undervalued
  • Critics and historians often dismissed or marginalized the achievements of women artists

Influential Works

• "The Horse Fair" (1852-1855) by Rosa Bonheur, a monumental painting depicting a horse market in Paris
  • Showcased Bonheur's skill in animal painting and challenged gender norms through its scale and subject matter
• "The Cradle" (1872) by Berthe Morisot, a tender portrait of her sister Edma gazing at her infant daughter
  • Exemplified Morisot's ability to capture intimate family moments and the Impressionist style
• "Little Girl in a Blue Armchair" (1878) by Mary Cassatt, a painting of a young girl lounging in a chair
  • Demonstrated Cassatt's mastery of capturing children's poses and expressions
• "The Roll Call" (1874) by Elizabeth Thompson (Lady Butler), a large-scale painting of a military roll call during the Crimean War
  • Received critical acclaim for its historical accuracy and emotional depth, challenging perceptions of women's artistic abilities
• "The Captive" (1882) by Evelyn De Morgan, a symbolic painting depicting a woman trapped in a tower
  • Reflected De Morgan's engagement with spiritualism and themes of women's oppression and liberation

Impact on Art History

• Women artists challenged traditional gender roles and expectations, paving the way for greater equality and opportunities
• Expanded the range of subjects and perspectives represented in art, bringing attention to women's experiences and domestic life
• Contributed to the development and popularity of movements like Impressionism and Pre-Raphaelitism
  • Berthe Morisot and Mary Cassatt were key figures in shaping Impressionism
• Influenced later generations of women artists by providing role models and inspiration
  • Artists like Paula Modersohn-Becker and Gabriele Münter looked to earlier women artists as examples
• Challenged the male-dominated canon of art history and the exclusion of women's contributions
  • Feminist art historians and scholars have worked to reassess and celebrate the achievements of women artists
• Paved the way for greater representation and recognition of women in the art world
  • Increased visibility and success of women artists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries

Legacy and Modern Relevance

• Women artists of the 19th century laid the foundation for greater gender equality and diversity in the arts
• Their works and stories continue to inspire and resonate with contemporary audiences
  • Exhibitions and publications have sought to highlight and reevaluate the contributions of 19th-century women artists
• Feminist art historians and scholars have worked to reclaim and celebrate the legacies of these artists
  • Linda Nochlin's groundbreaking essay "Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?" (1971) challenged the exclusion of women from art historical narratives
• Contemporary women artists continue to build upon the achievements and struggles of their predecessors
  • Addressing ongoing issues of representation, equality, and diversity in the art world
• Renewed interest in the works and lives of 19th-century women artists, with major exhibitions and retrospectives
  • "Women Artists in Paris, 1850-1900" (2017-2018) at the Denver Art Museum and "Berthe Morisot: Woman Impressionist" (2018-2019) at the Barnes Foundation
• Ongoing efforts to reassess and integrate women artists into the broader narrative of art history
  • Challenging traditional hierarchies and expanding the canon to be more inclusive and representative