“About ten years ago I realized that I knew almost nothing about female artists. How was this possible? Were there no female artists? Why did I know nothing about them? I realized that Art History was told from a brutally unbalanced perspective.that’s why I decided to devote myself to studying his works”, explains Katy HesselBritish art historian and exhibition curator. Art history without men (Attic of book) is an article explaining why women are excluded from art history.
“Among other things, in my book I speak of the exclusion of certain artistic forms, such as weaving or pottery, from the category of ‘art’. women engaged in the arts were limited to certain types that were considered ‘minor’. Even if a woman excelled in one of these, she was still outside the category. great artas are Harriett ForcesAn African-American woman born into slavery who develops a fascinating pictorial universe within her. duvet“remembers Hessel, who felt it was necessary to “dynamite the artistic canon,” because he understood that from its origins it was “a deeply patriarchal and Western-centred process with no place for women.”
sweeten the violence
This patriarchal art history, in addition to expelling women from museums and academies, has also embraced works depicting violence against women, whose dangerous message is softened by the titles chosen for these works, as in the canon. decided by men.
“The role of woman in the Western art tradition is that of a mere object, subject to a dehumanizing objectification. It was men who established this patriarchal tradition and “sweetened” and eroticized the crudest scenes of sexual violence., as in many cases they affirm a mythological tradition, as in the transgressions of Sabine women or Proserpina. same thing happened with Portrait of Madeleinea painting, although it was made by a painter, Marie Guillemine Benoistand it was supposed to symbolize the liberation of the African people, the author did not bother to collect the name of the model. However, he was recently identified following an investigation in 2019.”
The status of women in the arts improved with the emergence of later such movements. Arts and CraftsPrestigious as avant-garde schools whose members are sensitive to feminist demands and willing to value activities traditionally seen as “women’s” Bauhaus once again they have developed openly macho prejudices.
“The Bauhaus has become a legend and myths are still stories that simply convey a story that is still deeply rooted in people’s minds. Therefore, although it is difficult to get rid of them, it is necessary to know how they work, to know their interests. To criticize, we must circulate and keep them in circulation. Aware of their role in the modern world, every We must also develop new narratives that demand effective equality at the highest level and an end to discrimination on the basis of gender, race, income or any other reason”.
unconventional art, free art
In addition to social changes, one of the keys to improving women’s position in the art world was the emergence of new techniques such as photography. “This discipline didn’t have the long tradition of patriarchy that painting or sculpture had. You had to be open to new perspectives, and so were the pioneers of photography. Sometimes it was about private visions of society, and other times, it was more social. look. could be an example of that. Vivian Maier – portrait artist who produced her work while working as a nanny and whose photographs became public only after her death – and dorothea langeHe is known as an excellent Great Depression photographer.”
However, although they are almost contemporary techniques, photography is one thing, cinema is another. First, while allowing women to develop their artistic careers without the need for large budgets, the film industry remained in the hands of men, meaning many projects were closed to women. “Filmmaking is expensive, so if we add to this first hurdle the hurdle women still face to reach positions of responsibility today, you’re left with a situation where the most famous directors are almost male. Despite this, the last two Best Director Oscar Winners have been women. They have women as directors. There is an intention to get to know each other, but there is still a long way to go.”
The recent fact that women have assumed responsibility in museums, art centers or multinational companies is helping this scenario of discrimination change faster. “Undoubtedly, museums, like all modern societies, have a long patriarchal tradition behind them, but it is true that in recent years everything has started to stabilize. Partly because women reached powerful positions in museum managementbut also because society demands the presence of women in all aspects of society, including the arts,” explains Hassel, adding to the problem of discrimination against women by the fact that, until a few decades ago, Western society did not allow for demands that were not – based on race or sexual orientation. discrimination will be heard.” This makes all three of them intertwined and mutually reinforcing struggles. A lesbian female artist of African heritage will be able to hold exhibitions and even become famous today, but to do so she will have to overcome more obstacles than anyone else. It can’t go on like this,” says Katy Hessel, whose demands for equality are not limited to Western society.
“In an interconnected world, Struggles must be global and mutually supportive. Feminism has a role to play around the world. In some Asian or Muslim countries, human rights, including the rights of women, are violated. It becomes much more difficult to create art in such an environment, and although this affects both men and women, they bear the main burden because the oppressive environment also adds to the ignorance of the simple fact of being a woman. In these situations the role of art and artists becomes more urgent than ever.”