Unveiling Women Masters of Art

Unveiling Women Masters of Art
by Alejandra Cazaro

“Unveiling Women Masters” Offers an interesting journey through the history of art over the centuries, explaining different examples of women artists of extraordinary quality and importance but of little public relevance until today, despite the fact that some of them even achieved great recognition in their historical context. Latest social movements have issued a turn in History which has been compelled to include their magnificent work in books and museum exhibitions.

Some of the oldest examples are Sofonisba Anguissola, who came to live at the Court of Philip II in the 16th century, producing very famous portraits and achieving such recognition in Europe that celebrated painter Van Dyck even visited her in Italy when she was over 90 years old to praise her work. Anguissola, along with other artists of her time such as Lavinia Fontana, belongs to that group of notable women in Art during the second half of the 16th century who achieved notoriety among their contemporaries, but whose figures faded over time until they almost disappeared today.

Also the Flemish painter Clara Peeters, one of the initiators of the still life who popularised the use of the self-portrait concealed in still-life objects. Many later artists would emulate this approach.

Within the 17th century, the Italian Artemisia Gentileschi, the first woman in the Academy of Drawing Arts, a follower of Caravaggio and well known for her religious-themed work

The journey through history continues through the Impressionist period, with figures such as the painters Mary Cassat and Berthe Morisot, contemporaries of Renoir and Monet, with whom they shared exhibitions at the time. The figure of Camille Claudel, who rivalled her lover Rodin in the creation of sculptures.

Moving into the 20th century and the present day, Louise Bourgeoise and her giant chandeliers or Eva Hesse, a Jewish artist who fled to New York before the war and then returned to Germany to experiment with liquid latex. Yayoi Kusama, whose collaboration with Luis Vuitton made her a true celebrity in fashion as well as art; or Nikki de St Phalle, who created the beautiful, colourful, giant Maman and the fun sculptures that are part of the exterior of the Centre Pompidou in central Paris.

Other essential names to understand the evolution of the history of art in different disciplines over the last century were also mentioned, such as Georgia O’Keefe, Frida Kahlo, Leonora Carrington, Ruth Asawa, Chiharu Shiotta, Beatriz Milhazes, Maruja Mallo, Dora Maar, Barbara Hepworth, Olga Goncharova, Marina Abramovich, Romaine Brooks, Helen Frankenthaler and Judy Chicago.

Women artists who, fortunately, are regaining the prominence accredited by the quality of their works in museums and exhibition halls, occupying the place they deserve and which is necessary to contextualise the History of Art in a much more enriching and truthful way.

Alejandra Carazo studied History of Art in Málaga University and holds a Master degree in Art & Comunication from the Complutense University in Madrid.
She became an expert in the work of Pablo Picasso and Modern Art during her years as coordinator of the education department and researcher at the Museo Picasso Málaga, where she worked hand in hand with the curating department in the organization of the Museum’s Collection and temporary exhibitions.
She is nowadays working freelance as curator and researcher for galleries and has become an expert in interior design for art collectors.

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