Women Artists

Women have created art since antiquity but unfortunately most of their achievements are not adequately covered in most standard art history textbooks. This book written by Margaret Barlow finally gives the recognition they deserve. In 24 chapters Barlow gives a concise mostly chronological history of Western women's art from the Renaissance onwards and profiles approximately 300 painters and sculptors from Europe, North and South America, and Australia. Accompanying the comprehensive and easy to read texts are full color plates of art works. Although some of the featured women like Artemisia Gentileschi, Elisabeth Vigee-Lebrun, Berthe Morisot, Mary Cassatt, and Georgia O'Keeffe are very renowned the majority of the others are not household names. Sofonsiba Anguissola(the first internationally celebrated female painter), Judith Leyster, Rachel Ruysch, Angelica Kaufmann, Rosa Bonheur, Cecilia Beaux, Camille Claudel, Evelyn de Morgan, Suzanne Valadon(better known as a model and the mother of the painter Maurice Utrillo), Paula Modersohn -Becker, Anna Ancher, Frida Kahlo, Emily Carr, and Joan Mitchell are just some of the notable ones you will discover. A couple of the twentieth century artists also designed costumes and stage sets. A prominent example is the Russian painter Natalia Goncharova who spent the latter part of her career providing backdrops for ballets such as "The Firebird". As an interesting touch Barlow decided to present excerpts from letters, journals, memoires, and autobiographies written by several of the artists. As you read you will learn how the public responded during their lifetime. I was intrigued with the numerous women I never heard of until I finished the book. I am now familiar with the works by the Victorian era English artist Edith Hayllar , Scottish painter Katherine Cameron, Australian Margaret Preston and early twentieth century French modernists Jacqueline Marval and Emilie Charmy. Contemporary art is not my cup of tea so the last three chapters did not spark my interest. Although most of the notable women were included the author omitted to mention some other important artists such asthe American sculptor Bessie Potter Vonnoh, the American impressionist Helen Maria Turner, and Canada's best known female Impressionist Helen McNicholl. However I enjoyed the book a lot and is a must if you want to grasp better knowledge on this subject.

Beautiful images, lovely book. Will look for others by this publisher.

Wow, when I received this book, I couldn't believe the quality of this book for the price I paid. I thought it was the biggest steal an best deal EVER!. I love the pictures, and the quality of this book, it's so informative about learning of Women through the Arts.

waited a long time for a book like this.....very concise and wonderful history of each artist with images that truly reflect women artists of the ages.....good supplement to Gardener's Art History.

Love it. Warning it's a big book.

It's about time we noticed women artists

I received this fabulously beautiful book as a gift and am absolutely thrilled with it. I intend to spend many hours studying the pieces and reading about the women who created them. I would recommend this book for anyone who has an interest in aesthetics and an appreciation for women as artists.