More Than A Muse: Creative Partnerships That Sold Talented Women Short

by Katie McCabe

How many times have you seen a woman artist solely referred to as the wife, girlfriend, or 'mistress' of a man in the public eye?

Throughout history, the talent of women working across artistic disciplines - from visual artists to writers to filmmakers - has been largely undervalued, with the title of 'genius' reserved mainly for men.

More than a Muse unpacks the complex romantic relationships that left women overshadowed, anonymous or underestimated in their work. Katie McCabe shines a light on the women who deserved credit in their time, revealing the true stories of talents like Dora Maar (the photographer, painter and writer who was reduced to the role of 'Picasso's lover') and Alma Reville (the backseat director of Hitchcock's films). By exploring a broad scope of art movements and artists (from surrealism to silent film), she moves past the well-worn narratives in order to give wronged female creatives the credit they deserve. Delve into the stories of sculptor Camille Claudel, playwright and civil rights activist Shirley Graham Du Bois, painter Jo Hopper, jazz pianist Lil Hardin Armstrong and photographer Lucia Moholy.

More than a Muse re-examines our history through the lens of artistic partnership, and locates women solidly in the foreground.

Genres: Nonfiction

272 pages, Hardcover

First published March 5, 2020

Reviews

[Amanda Rosso · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a prose that reads like an epic, the lucid eye of a person concerned with the political and societal aspects of the issue, More Than a Muse is a mandatory reading for those women, and men, who are concerned with the structural inequality that allowed so many talented artists to be silenced, eclipsed, abused and and debased by not only the men in their lives, but the art world, and even society, at large.

The strident and paternalistic tone of art journalists, the wilful deafness of the general public, the intrinsically sexist times in which they practiced, and sexist assumptions about women and their abilities, are some of the factors that allowed that specific gender (and race) based form of obscurantism to prevail.

Katie McCabe does not simply present a series of fact, but gives us the tools to interpret them in a feminist key, a key that unlock painful issues that resonate with us today.

[Ave Ní Loingsigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully curated book, where each chapter offers a fascinating delve into the thoughts, work and wider context these talented women operated in. McCabe skilfully balances telling the story of how these women were overlooked, while celebrating their work in their own right. Hugely insightful.

[Mammacass1731 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating look at women artists, many of whom I’ve never heard of! I have always enjoyed reading and studying Art History. It was especially interesting to learn about these talented women who stayed in the shadow of their more famous husband or partner. I will read this one again.

[Carol]

Great introduction to the subject. I used each chapter as a jumping off point to do further research.

[Magpie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saffron Bookclub 2024 ✅

[Elizabeth Storey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful collection bringing to life the work of women that history has often (and unfairly) forgotten. Well-written, well-researched and incredibly readable. Both scholarly and yet human as the talents of these women are finally given the visibility they deserve.