1. Art HERstory a study of women in art
Perspectives in art
Milito

2. How are women portrayed in art?
Idealized
Beautiful & perfected
Godlike
As A Muse
Featured the female form
Women in the nude
Motherly
Often highlighted aspects of motherhood
What else do you notice?
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3. How do our views on women differ?
Men’s Portrayal
Women's Portrayal
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4. Where are the women?
Women’s hobbies / ambitions were based on her husbands permission
Women in general were expected take care of the children & home
Poor women & widows would have had to work on top of these duties
Creative endeavors would have to be fitted around obligations

5. Progress for Art NOT Women
Up to the 18th century, fine arts became increasingly respectable accomplishment of refined women, BUT…
Most universities wouldn’t accept women due to “moral principle”
Apprenticeships generally weren’t offered to women
Private training was acceptable but expensive
Often only passed down through families & close social circles

6. Not Taken Seriously Hobby of Accomplished Women
Aesthetically Pleasing & Decorative
Often Limited By Society
Undervalued

7. A woman made that? Overlooked Underestimated Uncredited
Some would use male pseudonym to be taken seriously & sell more art
Underestimated
Viewers were in disbelief that a woman could posses such talent
Uncredited
Mistaken for similar male artists of the era

8. Boys Club
There were many great women artist’s that simply couldn’t break the glass ceiling
Women’s art has often been overlooked in serious galleries / salons
Refused the same opportunities in the art world men
Constrained to “proper” art
Women were to draw livestock rather than male model for figure drawing because that would be “improper”
Content was expected to be beautiful

9. Arts & Crafts Functional Crafts Work was often not considered “ART”
(textiles, pottery, jewelry, etc.)
Work was often not considered “ART”
Passed down through generations

10. Decorative Art & Fine Art
There is an arbitrary separation of decorative art & fine art
Decorative art doesn’t contribute to the function, while fine art serves no function at all
Hard to draw the line between the two
We love them the same & keep them around simply because they are visually appealing
Fine art gets all the praise & attention & is worth millions of dollars
Decorative arts are shrugged off & nearly dropped from art history

11. Behind the Scenes Applied Arts
Women often worked in design & production uncredited

12. “Feminine” Arts Fashion Makeup Hairstyling
Changed & reflected culture throughout history
Women have always been major contributors, but have been influenced by men’s approval

13. Women’s Issues Social Progress & Equality Gender Roles & Biases
Women’s Health, Aging & Beauty
Motherhood