Until as recently as the 20th century, women were discouraged from pursuing careers in the arts. As a result, when we consider artists through history, we tend to think of great men like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, and Claude Monet. However, as in many other fields, women fought for equality in the art world for centuries, making important contributions to every artistic movement, from the Renaissance to Cubism and beyond. This article explores the lives and works of four of the greatest female artists through history.
1. Sofonisba Anguissola (1532–1625)
Born to a noble family of modest means, Sofonisba Anguissola grew up to become a trailblazer of the Italian Renaissance. Anguissola’s father was determined that she and her sisters receive a comprehensive education. They not only were taught about fine art, a rarity for girls at the time, but also completed apprenticeships with respected local painters, establishing a trend for female artists to come. Sofonisba Anguissola’s talent came to the attention of Michelangelo, who supported the young artist through an informal mentorship, exchanging drawings with her.
As a female artist, Anguissola was not allowed to use live models or study anatomy. Nevertheless, she still managed to carve out a highly successful career. Her work caught the eye of King Philip II of Spain, and Anguissola was commissioned to paint his portrait, raising her profile still further.
Today, Sofonisba Anguissola is famous for her intimate portraits of nobility, her paintings capturing the vibrance and spirit of her sitters. Anguissola’s most celebrated works include Portrait of Archduchess Johanna of Austria, which fetched more than $391,000 when sold at auction in Vienna in 2011, Portrait of Giuliano II, and Portrait of Francesco I de Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany.
2. Elisabeth Louise Vigee Le Brun (1755–1842)
Elisabeth Louise Vigee Le Brun was completely self-taught. She was admitted to the French Academy, thanks to the intervention of none other than Marie Antoinette. Vigee Le Brun gained acclaim for her sympathetic portraits of aristocratic ladies, which were deemed more natural than those of her contemporaries.
Living in 18th-century Paris, Vigee Le Brun witnessed the beginnings of one of the most tumultuous eras of European history. She fled the city at the start of the French Revolution, traveling Europe, impressing wealthy patrons along the way, and gaining commissions in Vienna, Florence, Naples, Berlin, and Saint Petersburg. She subsequently returned to her native France after the conflict ended.
Elisabeth Louise Vigee Le Brun’s most famous works include Self-Portrait in a Straw Hat and Portrait of Muhammad Dervish Khan, which fetched $7.18 million when it was auctioned by Sotheby’s in 2018, making history as the most expensive portrait by a pre-Modern-era female artist ever sold at auction.
3. Rosa Bonheur (1822–1899)
French Realist painter Rosa Bonheur is one of the most famous female artists of the 1800s. Like many women artists, she followed in the footsteps of her father, who was also a great painter. Known for her large paintings featuring animals, Bonheur exhibited at a famous Paris salon and went on to find success in both Britain and the United States. The artist spent vast amounts of time sketching animals in motion, enabling her to achieve a remarkably convincing likeness on canvass.
As well as making waves in the art world, Rosa Bonheur challenged gender stereotypes in wider society, donning men’s attire from the mid-1850s onward, and even obtaining police authorization for the privilege. Bonheur was often criticized for wearing pants and loose blouses, but continued to do so for the rest of her life, highlighting their practicality when working with animals.
Rosa Bonheur cohabited with her partner Nathalie Micas for more than 40 years before forging a relationship with Anna Elizabeth Klumpke, an American painter, following Micas’ death. Living openly as a lesbian in an era when it was disparaged by the French government, Bonheur was a trailblazer in both her professional and personal life.
4. Mary Cassatt (1844–1926)
Described by Gustave Geffroy as one of the three ladies of Impressionism, Mary Cassatt was born in Pennsylvania on May 22, 1844. After her artistic training, Cassatt spent the rest of her career painting in France.
Impressionism was the movement of the day when Cassatt arrived in Paris, dominating the French art world. This influential movement focuses on capturing a scene’s temporary effect rather than depicting it accurately. Mary Cassatt became the first American artist to exhibit with the Impressionist movement in Paris, bringing her works to the attention of Edgar Degas, one of the most famous artists of the time, with whom Cassatt later collaborated.
Cassatt’s best-known works include The Boating Party, The Child’s Bath, and Little Girl in a Blue Armchair. Her oil on canvas Mother and Two Children raised more than $4.27 million when it was auctioned by Christie’s, New York, establishing a new record for a Mary Cassatt painting.
Hata katika karne ya 20, wanawake walipuuzwa kazi za sanaa. Kwa sababu hiyo, tunapozungumzia wasanii wa kale, mara nyingi tunatazamia watu mashuhuri kama vile Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, na Claude Monet. Hata hivyo, kama ilivyo katika nyanja nyingine nyingi, wanawake walipigania usawa katika ulimwengu wa sanaa kwa karne nyingi, wakitoa michango muhimu kwa kila harakati ya kisanii, kutoka Renaissance hadi Cubism na zaidi. Makala hii inachunguza maisha na kazi za wasanii wanne wa kike wakubwa zaidi katika historia. 1. Uwe na mtazamo wa kweli Sofonisba Anguissola (1532-1625) alikuwa mwana wa kifalme wa Italia na mwanzilishi wa Renaissance ya Italia. Baba ya Anguissola alikuwa na azimio la kwamba yeye na dada zake wapate elimu kamili. Hawakujifunza tu juu ya sanaa nzuri, nadra kwa wasichana wakati huo, lakini pia walimaliza mafunzo na wachoraji wa ndani wanaoheshimiwa, wakianzisha mwelekeo wa wasanii wa wanawake kuja. Sofonisba Anguissola talanta alikuja kwa tahadhari ya Michelangelo, ambaye aliunga mkono msanii mchanga kupitia ushauri wa kawaida, kubadilishana michoro na yeye. Akiwa msanii wa kike, Anguissola hakuruhusiwa kutumia mifano ya kuishi au kujifunza anatomia. Hata hivyo, bado aliweza kufanikiwa sana katika kazi yake. Kazi yake ilivutia Mfalme Philip wa Pili wa Hispania, na Anguissola aliagizwa achore picha yake, na hivyo kumfanya awe mashuhuri zaidi. Sofonisba Anguissola ni mtunzi wa picha za watu mashuhuri na wa kisasa. "Katika miaka ya 1960, kazi ya ""Portrait of Archduchess Johanna of Austria"" iliuzwa kwa dola za Marekani zaidi ya $391,000, na ""Portrait of Giuliano II"" ilibadilishwa na ""Portrait of Francesco I de' Medici"" na ""Portrait of Francesco I de' Medici"" na ""Portrait of Francesco I de' Medici"" na ""Portrait of Francesco I de' Medici.""" 2. Uwezekano wa kupata Elisabeth Louise Vigee Le Brun (1755-1842) Elisabeth Louise Vigee Le Brun alikuwa kabisa kujifunza. Aliandikishwa katika Chuo cha Ufaransa, kwa sababu ya kuingilia kati kwa Marie Antoinette. Vigée Le Brun alipata sifa kwa picha zake za wanawake wa aristocracy, ambazo zilionwa kuwa za asili zaidi kuliko zile za watu wa wakati wake. Alipokuwa akiishi Paris katika karne ya 18, Vigée Le Brun aliona mwanzo wa mojawapo ya enzi zenye msukosuko zaidi katika historia ya Ulaya. Alipoondoka mjini wakati wa mapinduzi ya Ufaransa, alisafiri Ulaya, akivutia wadhamini matajiri njiani, na kupata kazi huko Vienna, Florence, Naples, Berlin, na Saint Petersburg. Baadaye alirudi Ufaransa baada ya vita kumalizika. "Kutoka kwa mchoro wa Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun, ""Self-Portrait in a Straw Hat"" na ""Portrait of Muhammad Dervish Khan"" ni picha ya kwanza ya mwanamke aliyewahi kuuzwa kwa bei ya juu zaidi katika historia ya sanaa ya kisasa." 3. Uwe na mtazamo wa kweli Rosa Bonheur (1822-1899) ni mchoraji wa Ufaransa na mchoraji wa kisasa wa kisasa. Kama wasanii wengi wa wanawake, alifuata nyayo za baba yake, ambaye pia alikuwa mchoraji mkubwa. Bonheur, ambaye anajulikana kwa michoro yake mikubwa ya wanyama, alionyesha katika maonyesho maarufu ya Paris na akafanikiwa nchini Uingereza na Marekani. Msanii huyo alitumia muda mwingi sana kuchora wanyama wakiwa wakisonga, na hivyo akaweza kutengeneza picha yenye kusadikisha sana kwenye kitambaa. Pamoja na kuunda mawimbi katika ulimwengu wa sanaa, Rosa Bonheur alishindana na mitazamo ya kijinsia katika jamii pana, akivaa mavazi ya wanaume kutoka katikati ya miaka ya 1850 na kuendelea, na hata kupata idhini ya polisi kwa upendeleo huo. Bonheur mara nyingi alikosolewa kwa kuvaa suruali na blouse za kutosha, lakini aliendelea kufanya hivyo kwa maisha yake yote, akisisitiza ufanisi wao wakati wa kufanya kazi na wanyama. Rosa Bonheur aliishi na Nathalie Micas kwa zaidi ya miaka 40 kabla ya kuanzisha uhusiano na Anna Elizabeth Klumpke, mchoraji wa Marekani, baada ya kifo cha Micas. Akiishi waziwazi kama lesbian katika enzi wakati ilipopuuzwa na serikali ya Ufaransa, Bonheur alikuwa mwanzilishi katika maisha yake ya kitaaluma na ya kibinafsi. 4. Uwe na uhakika "Mary Cassatt (1844-1926) ""Mwanamke wa tatu wa Impressionism"" ni jina la mtunzi wa sanaa ya kisasa wa Ufaransa, Gustav Geoffroy, ambaye alizaliwa Pennsylvania, Marekani, Mei 22, 1844."" Baada ya mafunzo yake ya kisanii, Cassatt alitumia mapumziko ya kazi yake ya uchoraji nchini Ufaransa. Impressionism ilikuwa harakati ya siku wakati Cassatt aliwasili Paris, kutawala dunia ya sanaa ya Kifaransa. Harakati hii yenye ushawishi inazingatia kukamata athari ya muda wa eneo badala ya kuionyesha kwa usahihi. Mary Cassatt alikuwa msanii wa kwanza wa Marekani kuonyesha kazi zake katika kipindi cha Impressionist huko Paris, na hivyo kumfanya Edgar Degas, mmoja wa wasanii mashuhuri wa wakati huo, awe na kazi yake. Kazi maarufu za Cassatt ni pamoja na The Boating Party, The Child's Bath, na Little Girl in a Blue Armchair. Mafuta yake kwenye canvas Mama na Watoto Wawili ilikusanya zaidi ya $ 4.27 milioni wakati ilipouzwa kwa Christie's, New York, kuanzisha rekodi mpya kwa mchoro wa Mary Cassatt.