Book of the year 2022, chosen by a panel of judges for the Waterstones bookshop is “The Story of Art – Without Men” by Katy Hessell. It takes readers on a fascinating journey which overturns the traditional view of the history of art. It was born out of the need to address the preconception that women’s art is inferior, or even non-existent. Published in 1950, “The Story of Art” by E.H. Gombrich, considered by many to be the introductory “bible” to Art History, contained no women artists at all. The sixteenth edition managed to squeeze one in.
For a woman, training to be an artist was not easy. In the UK, The Royal Academy did not accept female applicants. By accident in 1860, Laura Herford using only the initials L.H. was admitted by accident.
More women quickly followed but were not able to draw from the live model, being shunted off into a room full of plaster casts instead. Drawing from the nude had always been seen as a basic skill in artistic education – as it still is.
It was not until 1893 that women were allowed in the life studio, but only if the male models hid their manhood, while female models were forbidden any clothing.
Thankfully, since then, women artists have been able to study and compete on a rather more level playing field. But things still aren’t right when, for example, out of 2,300 works held by the National Gallery only 24 are by women.
Artgallery.co.uk markets the work of as many women artists as men and sales are shared between them. Here are just five of the many ...