Gender and Art

 To look at Art History’s objective narrative about gender equality, we first need to investigate the history of women’s rights. Art traditionally excelled in Europe, and Finland was the first European country to allow women to vote in 1906. European countries followed till 1984, with Liechtenstein being the last country to allow women to vote. American women were allowed to first vote in 1920 but not to have their own credit card until 1974.  Women’s rights are a relatively new concept compared to the start of humanity.  It is easy to understand how gender equality was not executed fairly throughout art history when women were not being treated equally throughout time. 

Men were encouraged to pursue art by their families and was seen as a great way for a man to express themselves. Due to societal standards, women were meant to see art as merely a hobby and nothing more. Freeland states, “It is what Nochlin calls a ‘myth of the Great Artist’ to imagine that greatness will be manifested no matter what the surrounding circumstances. Artists need training and materials. Famous painters often came from specific social groups, and many had artist fathers who supported and encouraged their sons’ interest in art. And far fewer fathers did this with daughters (but in fact, most of the women who did become painters had artist fathers). Art required both patronage (which women artists were unlikely to win) and academic training (from which women were barred)” (pg.36, 2003). Art history does not have utterly famous artists, compared to Van Gogh or Picasso who are women, because women were not given an equal chance. If a woman was as good, or even better than these artists, society would have rejected them without giving them a chance. 

Since women are increasingly becoming more prominent in the art field, there will be an increase of famous women artists to explore in the future of art history.  Women and Men have different habits and ways of doing anything. In theory, we will learn more techniques and have different influxes of art styles due to women artists increasingly becoming more popular. 

Freeland, C. (2003). Art Theory. Oxford University Press Academic UK. https://tiffin-bookshelf.vitalsource.com/books/9780191579325

 Women rights of vote and election in Europe. Mappr. (2024, March 4). https://www.mappr.co/thematic-maps/women-rights-of-vote/