An Opinionated Guide to Women Painters

by Lucy Davies

Genres: Art, Art History

160 pages, Hardcover

Published April 18, 2024

Reviews

[Tabish Khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read a few of these opinionated guides and they are accessible and give us a bite sized tour around the art world, and in this case women painters. Many I knew of but others that were new to me and was great to learn about.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good entry point to finding out more about the history of women in art. That said, it's an entry point; it's hard to get to know or remember an artist by reading a one-page description of their life and looking at just one of their works. I do prefer a deeper dive into a select number of artists (big fan of Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam), however that is not the point of the book. The best way to read it is probably to pick out one artist every now and then and go on the internet to search more information about them. Unfortunately this clashes a bit with my book reading habits so I was a bit overwhelmed. But anyway, good collection of artists, good introduction to the topic, really interesting and inspiring women I enjoyed learning about.

Listing those whose art appealed the most to me, to remember better and revisit some day.

Artemisia Gentisleschi (paintings of myths with women taking the lead role like slaying Holofernes)
Sarah Biffin (born without arms, painted with her teeth - insane)
Amalia Lindergen (the famous picture of a man in a tavern)
Harriet Backer (interiors exploring the light and colour)
Grandma Moses (started painting at 76! very warm and profound pictures, I can easily imagine them printed and used extensively on all kinds of merch. hell, maybe they are)
Emily Carr (probably my favourite. very green pictures of nature in unique style. I want this on the wall in my flat)
Georgia O'Keefe (beautiful and gentle abstractions. also wall material)
Tamara de Lempicka (that badass portrait in green bugatti)
Evelyn Dunbar (second pretendent to be my favourite. her illustrations could be used in dixit board game. hell, maybe they are)
Maria Lassnig (body awareness painting - cursed)
Bridget Riley (stunning op art)
Maggi Hambling (marinist, wall material)
Thenjiwe Niki Nikosi (beautiful and creative compositions celebrating black people)

Also found out that there are museums devoted to women in art!
The Women's Art Collection, Murray Edward College, Cambridge
Femmes Artistes du Musee de Mougins, Mougins
National Museum of Women in the Art, Washington