Five Women Artists

Raoudah Samir

Professor Cacoilo

Art & Women

29 April 2019

Five Women Artists

Artists use paintings as a mode of expression. They use it as a way to explore, learn and form a whole new level of creativity and identity. In several occasions, you will find art, more so painting lessons in asylums to help those with mental problems express their feelings through paint and diagrams. Art is not only a hobby but it is also being used by men and women as a lucrative business. Paintings are hung in museums and art galleries for auction. Art is mainly used to bring out a message to the greater world. In the 21st century, artworks by women have been seen to play a greater role. Some of the greatest female painters include Lisa Yuskavage, Lynette Yiadom, Maria Keryn, Aliza Nisenbaum and Adrian Piper. Art has been used symbolically to explain common societal issues that both women and men undergo through, whether racism, prostitution, single families, LGBTQ related issues or body shaming by people.

1. Aliza Nisenbaum. Las Talaveritas, 2015

This artwork by Aliza captures a woman and her two daughters of African descent who seem to be in deep thoughts, bored or sad, facing an object or the wall while sitting on a sofa set. One daughter leans on her mother while her mother places her left hand on her. Close to them is another lady, probably her sister who seems neither happy nor sad with their current situation. She is facing the ceiling on the sofa lying on her back while her legs are lifted, somewhat crossed and supported by a wall. She looks like someone who lives a carefree life and does not abide by any societal rules and religion by how she dresses. On the wall is hanging a portrait of Mary the virgin, which is symbolic of the family’s religious roots. The piece of work is symbolic of how modern-day home is set up. The family does not look well off but rather poor and uncomfortable with their present situation. The painting depicts a gloomy household and in it is a magnitude of symbolic attributes that have been used when painting it.

2. Jenny Saville. Self Portrait, 1991

Self-portrait painting by Jenny Saville is of a large woman sitting on the toilet. Her hands are on her knees like she’s ready to stand up, and her left hand is holding a piece of uncut tissue from the roll placed on the table top. She is in the process of using the toilet but is interrupted. Her underwear was midway to the top and judging from her posture she was ready to stand up and hide her nudity. From the shock, light, and shadow the woman’s image looks real. An unexpected open of the door may have caused the shock on the woman’s face. She also might have been uncomfortable with her body size and shape; therefore, worried whoever was behind the door might see her naked. The artist captured the moments in between perfectly, which seem to depict uncertainty, shock and a woman uncomfortable with her body and current situation.

3. Lisa Yuskavage. Pied, 2008

An image of a young woman, naked except for her knee-high socks and purple colored underwear posed as if she’s in front of an audience. She holds a bouquet of flowers with both her hands to hide her pubic area. Her face is smeared with what looks like a white cream. Her body and physical features seem exaggerated, her breasts, thighs, and bottom are enlarged to bring on a sensual feeling or presence to benefit men. The cream may be symbolic of marks of disrespect shown to women of such stature. Yuskavage places attention to the natural tone and anatomical features making it feel real and stand out. Behind her are long flowing curtains that cover the window. From the curtains and shadows in the painting, she might be in an enclosed room.

4. Lynette Yiadom. Grammy, 2003

This artwork by Lynette Yiadom depicts two seemingly happy women having a chat with one another while heading out to presumably an event that demands them to be well dressed. One is a white woman, and the other is a black woman that depicts diversity. Their choice of dresses, long, white and off shoulder depicts a more casual but presentable look.

Their long hair is well combed, and the white woman adorns a necklace. They are carefree women, and by their smiles, they seem fond of each other and have embraced the fact that though they are diverse by race, they are willing to forego that the cultural divide to be friends and bring forth something better out of it. The white lady stretches out her hand in a figurative way like she is asking a question by the use of gestures, so the two are having a conversation as they walk. Lynette’s painting tries to overcome and beat the fight of a current societal problem called racism. It shuns racism and shows and speaks of how embracing each other not judged by race is cool; people are happy and interesting.           

5.  Maria Kreyn. Alone together, 2018

This piece of work by Maria Kreyn shouts a cry for help in a moment of silence. Whereas it shows a moment of affection between a man and a woman, the woman does not seem to enjoy any bit of it. The reasons for her bland facial expression may vary. Consensual sex allows for both parties to agree to engage in a sexual encounter where both people enjoy the moment. The sexual encounter displayed in this painting depicts a forced or an unwanted sexual encounter. This may be because the lady does not share a connection with the guy or in the worst-case scenario; her line of work is prostitution. Prostitution does not give room for feelings or emotions which would explain her bland facial expression.

The guy, on the other hand, seems to enjoy the moment. This is characterized by the position of his mouth on the lady’s neck to arouse her. He is oblivious of the lady’s facial expression meaning he does not care if she likes it or not. His intention might be solely for sex and leave or pay for it depending on the circumstances surrounding the sexual encounter.

The lady’s hand movement shows her intent on getting involved in the encounter. Her hand brushing against the man’s hair is meant to make the man feel she is consenting but would rather get done with it if he ever saw her facial expression. Her head is already astray thinking of something else, and the man is already deep into the encounter. This shows a disconnection towards the whole encounter, and all this is displayed by their body languages and facial expressions.

Works Cited

Krelyn, Maria. Alone Together. Painting. <https://mariakreyn.com/paintings#/alone-together/>.

Nisenbaum, Aliza. Las Talaveritas. Painting. <https://www.artsy.net/artwork/aliza-nisenbaum las-talaveritas>.

Saville, Jenny. Self Portrait. Painting. <http://www.artnet.com/artists/jenny-saville/2>.

Yiadom, Lynette. Grammy. Painting. <http://www.artnet.com/artists/lynette-yiadom boakye/grammy>.

Yuskavage, Lisa. Pied. Painting. <https://www.yuskavage.com/artwork/3649>.