Feminism and Art History: Questioning the Litany

by Norma Broude (Editor), Mary D. Garrard (Editor)

A long-needed corrective and alternative view of Western art history, these seventeen essays by respected scholars are arranged chronologically and cover every major period from the ancient Egyptian to the present. While several of the essays deal with major women artists, the book is essentially about Western art history and the extent to which it has been distorted, in every period, by sexual bias. With 306 illustrations.

Genres: Art, Art History, Feminism, Nonfiction, History, Academic, Womens Studies

358 pages, Paperback

First published August 11, 1982

Reviews

[Michael]

This anthology of essays on art, artists and art movements provides a set of interesting interpretations of Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance and modern arts from a feminist perspective. The essays reflect the richness and variety of feminist theory and its approach to arts and culture. Essays address the cultural depiction of women, critique masculine assumptions about what constitutes art, who belongs in the canon and the hidden assumptions that criticism has had in taking up art and artists. As a consequence, we get readings on the implications of misunderstanding the matrilineal secession of Pharoah's in ancient Egypt, the role of women in the ancient Roman marketplace and the depiction of women in Degas' paintings. In addition several essays examine the treatment women artists and the significance of their contributions to art history and its significance for how women are depicted and understood. A superb overview of art history and an excellent set of essays.

[Tatjana]

It took me a while to get through, but it was worth the effort. Some of the chapters made mediocre arguments, probably due to length constraints; however others were utterly fascinating, giving me new perspectives.

I write "new" although the book is from the early 1980s- just before I started taking art history classes.

One chapter, "Degas' Misogyny" was particularly enlightening. The author argued with wit and practiced academic writing that Degas, while irascible, did not hate women. Indeed, in the 90s and perhaps the 00s, Degas was still considered a misogynist.

The book makes me want to rush down to the Metropolitan Museum and look at some of their paintings in a new way. While I'm quite sensitive to (and angry about) the continued overwhelming bias towards male artists in museums (and art criticism in general), looking at the work that is there in a new way will keep my head fresh and my heart open.

Read it.

[Hillary]

I liked this book of essays from the early 80s.

[Jen]

From its first essay on the impact of Egyptian matrilineal descent on Egyptian art to an examination of hair in literature, painting, Biblical stories, and contemporary culture to the essay on quilting as an art form, I found this book an enlightening read. I need to look for a more contemporary read that traces art with an eye towards the impact of artists of color in the western art tradition.