Women and Art: Contested Territory

by Judy Chicago, Edward Lucie-Smith

Well-known feminist and artist Judy Chicago and the art historian Lucie-Smith explore many aspects of women and art in a dialogue that weaves around a broad selection of art both canonical and less well known. Lucie-Smith writes with his customary lucidity of the choices and contexts of the individual artists and works; Chicago provides an angry and personal counterpoint that remains true to the feminist viewpoint and its refusal to allow women to be used not as individuals but as objects. The volume is oversize (9.25x11.5), well illustrated, and will be thought-provoking reading for anyone who looks at art. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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

192 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1999

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

An art book well balanced between words and images. The main text is by Edward Lucie-Smith (neat trick to have a male author with a female forename for a surname) and the collaboration between him and Judy Chicago seems a little clunky. Her contribution is by way of an extensive glossing on his text, with personal anecdotes and histories (and nothing wrong with that) I'd've liked more evidence of actual conversation between them but I liked the way they could agree and disagree. The book, about women as artists and women as subject matter, is divided into themes: from The Divine to the less expected Pissing and I appreciated the range of images chosen and the way in which it was done - allowing room for some to be large but including smaller ones so we could engage in comparisons for ourselves. A lot to think about... especially Chicago's sour postscript about how remarkably often it had been difficult for the picture researcher to get permission to use work.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read, discuss many artworks but didn't have images of all. Divided into 10 chapters -- the Divine, the Heroic, Maternity, Daily Life, Asking for It?, Casting Couch and Brothel, I Paint therefore I Am, Body as Battleground, Household Vanities and Exploring Identities. Saw many works of art that I never saw before.

[HeavyReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why did I get rid of this book? Sometimes I am not very bright.

This book is beautiful with so many color images and so much good information about women in art.

I should have held on to this book forever.