The Power of Women is a topic of Western art that inverted traditional gender roles. Most male painters saw this as comedy, but Artemisia Gentileschi turned it on its head and painted “courageous, rebellious, and powerful” women.
Artemisia Gentileschi [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Artemisia Gentileschi was a prominent Italian Renaissance artist, one of the few women in that boy’s club. She was the first female member of the Florentine Academy of Fine Arts (Michelangelo and Vasari were two other notable members) and had a large international client base, thanks to her expert use of colour and composition.
She has a fascinating biography, but to be honest some female artists get overshadowed by their biography (c.f. Sylvia Plath). I’d rather just appreciate her genuine skill and talent as an artist.
Categories: Art Arts & recreation Early modern history History
The Generalist
I live in Auckland, New Zealand, and am curious about most things.
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