During the Middle Ages in Europe, women had many roles when it came to taking care of the house and children, but other then that men were the ones that controlled almost everything and everyone. The women had very few to almost no rights at all and they had become the "property" of their new husbands. Since the time they are born, babies are already put into a label and depending what they are, determines how they will be raised and treated. Girls have to follow the traditions and customs that have been taught for many generations and obey the laws that were put in place. However, nuns were the first women to expand the idea of women as artists and was accepted through the church. The nuns would come together to establish what their next project would be, whether it was drawings or writings. They would tell the men that the finished products were from the words of God. This was the first gatherings of women to create a brand for themselves and make take charge of what they believe in.
Herrad of Landsburg, Self-portrait with 60 nuns, from Hortus deliciarum, circa 1180
In this drawing, it seems to be a "profile page" of all the 60 nuns that were part of this new century of women artists. These were the only women that were allowed to draw or write from the name of God and the church. Each nun was given an identity and are known for their gracious work and addition to the women artists to come. Throughout the years, very few changes were made for women and what their roles were. They were still bought off to men from their own families. The father would offer a price for the daughter to be with the man that wants to buy her. The mothers, grandmothers, aunts, etc., would guide them into becoming a good wife and mother. The way they had to cook, clean, and obey their husbands. Once the young ladies were sold, the husband was allowed do anything to them and there would no repercussions. Some women were abused and often raped, by other men because they felt that they held the power over women. Since women were often busy with housework or caring for their children, they had never thought about having a career of their own. Many women artists began with some luck and some money that was available. Chadwick states, "Their careers were made possible by birth into artist families and the training that accompanied it, or into the upper class.." (76). Some women had artist fathers that were willing to teach their girls what art was about and be supportive of the artwork that they created. Others were part of the upper class and making art was part of a hobby that they enjoyed doing. However, these women were beginning to open more opportunities for women to teach one other and create artwork that "only" men were allowed to do , such as themes of war, freedom, and other ones.
One female artist that was allowed to step out of this controlled society was Rosa Bonheur. Her father was an artist and part of a group that believed in gender equality, so he was very supportive in his daughters decisions. She was able to help her father with the art school for girls that he owned, where she began to experiment her love for art. Her main specialty was painting animals in their environment , such as horses, cows, etc.,. She cross-dressed, meaning that she would wear men's clothing and got the permission to do so with "a permit from the French police, a signature from the doctor , and had to renew it every six months" (Guerrilla Girls 48). Of course, all of these paperwork and laws were made by men, so women could not dress like them; after all, women were the "objects" that men could not take their eyes off.
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| Rosa Bonheur, The Horse Fair, 1887 |
This is one of Bonheur''s most famous pieces of work. This was one subject that women were not allowed to paint about, but she did it anyways. She was there where this took place and had captured the essence of violence, but also the innocence that came from riding with the horses to fight for their goals that they wanted to achieve
In the late 19th century, sculptures have been introduced into the art world , and while many men have had the advantage first, many women were also, creating some of the best. Edmonia Lewis was not like the white woman who had a rich family, but was African- American and Chippewa and was orphaned when she was a little girl. When she attended Oberlin College, an abolitionist hotbed, where whites and black were able to come together and live in a peaceful environment, where no one was discriminated. They valued their students to do whatever they planned to do freely and without judgement. However, when two of her roommates accused her of spiking their drinks, she had to go to court and defend her case. She had African-American lawyers that proved her innocence and she was acquitted for the lack of evidence. Her sculptures focused on slavery in the U.S. and how it was hard to live in a free country, but they had no freedom.
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| Edmonia Lewis, Forever Free, 1876 |
One of her most famous work is Forever Free, where a slave that was once in chains is now released and hoping for a brighter future since he is considered free. The girl is pleading for her freedom as well, since it is harder to see a woman free than a man. This sculpture demonstrates the reality of America of that time, and Edmonia wanted her sculptures to portray the emotion and reality and what she and many had to face.
In conclusion, women were not in power during this time, but the only way women made a difference is to change and to not be afraid of that change. As humans, we know what is right and wrong, and only the change that is done can make the difference we want to see. Today, women are striving and making positive changes, but there are still things that can be done. Just remembering all of these women artists and their achievements, they did make a change and now it is the women of today that can strive like them.
http://www.19thcenturyart-facos.com/artwork/forever-free
Whitney Chadwick. Women, Art, and Society: Fifth Edition. Thames and Hudson, 2012.
The Guerrilla Girls' Bedside Companion to the History of Western Art. Penguin Books, 2006.
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