BOOK: Great Women Painters, Phaidon Publications

Women artists have always been creative. It’s just that their work, their talent hasn’t been valued. And making art has been harder for women, as women historically hadn’t had the freedom to study painting. The book “Great Women Painters” by Phaidon Publications showcases women from the past 500 years, with the oldest painter being a Florentine nun of the 16th century, Plautilla Nelli. Certainly there were women painting in the preceding centuries, but their work hasn’t been recorded. Women weren’t being commissioned to paint in important public spaces the way men were. Their works weren’t collected, and, as the introduction makes clear, still lags in commercial value compared to their male peers. A common thread throughout the centuries and the different nationalities included here is that many women artists had a father or husband support their work. The main way a woman learned art was having a father teach her. Artemisia Gentileschi, who painted in the 17th century, not only trained with her father, he praised her talent as better than that of his many apprentices. Artemisia’s story is well known, her success eventually eclipsing that of her father as she painted for royal courts, but many others share similar backgrounds. More than 300 artists are included in this beautifully illustrated book. Each painter is represented by a single image. Since each artist has only a paragraph description, the main outlines of a life are sketched but richer details aren’t included. Enough is given, however, to spark interest for further exploration. The book functions as an encyclopedia in this way, not purporting to be definitive, but acting as a rich resource. Artists featured include: Hilma af Klint, Eileen Agar, Sofonisba Anguissola, Cecily Brown, Leonora Carrington, Mary Cassatt, Elaine de Kooning, Marlene Dumas, Nicole Eisenman, Jadé Fadojutimi, Helen Frankenthaler, Artemisia Gentileschi, Maggi Hambling, Carmen Herrera, Gwen John, Frida Kahlo, Tamara de Lempicka, Agnes Martin, Joan Mitchell, Alice Neel, Plautilla Nelli, Georgia O’Keeffe, Paula Rego, Bridget Riley, Jenny Saville, Dana Schutz, Lee Krasner, Yayoi Kusama -Dimitris Lempesis