Role of Women in Development European Art during Renaissance and Realism

Role of Women in Development European Art during Renaissance and Realism

Introduction

Female artists in Europe face a lot of challenges during the renaissance (1400 to 1500 and realism (1800 – 1900). In Italy, for instance, renowned male artists were baptized “virtuoso” (meaning mortal god). Women were, on the other hand, overlooked, and they did not get enough opportunities to create artworks. But despite the many challenges, women were not demotivated. Many critics of women artists during the time argued that women were “passive sex,” and that the brush used by painters was “more manly.” This did not deter female artists who were more determined. They fought back and developed and developed innovative painting styles. They also nurtured other female artists by teaching them how to avoid men who would try to discourage them. The legacies that these women left behind continue to be recognized even a thousand years after they died. This essay will explain some of the contributions that women made to European artwork during renaissance and realism.

Contributions of Women

Sofonisba Anguissola (1532 – 1625, Parlemo)

Anguissola was a Renaissance artist whose artworks continue to accord her global recognition. During her time, she traveled across Italy before she reached the Spanish court, where she was able to do a painting of King Phillip and his family.  Anguissola used her paintings to push the boundaries of the portraiture genre. For instance, most of the conventions during the renaissance portrayed women as objects, but Anguissola challenges this in her portrait “Self Portrait with Bernardino Campi.” The picture depicts Anguissola’s then teacher, Campi, drawing her, dictating how Anguissola looks like on the portrait. At first glance, the portrait appears to be depicting gender imbalance. A closer look, however, reveals that Anguissola used the portrait to poke fun at the traditions of the time; it depicted her master painting her dress, something usually done by apprentices, while she asserted her appearance and that of her master.

Elisabetta Sirani (1638 – 1655, Bologna)    

Sirani believed in high thinking and plain living. She started supporting her family from as young as nineteen years, and she developed over two hundred artworks in her short career. It is believed that by her mid-teen years, this famous female artist had outpaced her father, who was a painter, and even her teacher, and she also started earning commissions from her works from a very young age. Sirani was able to teach a dozen other female artists, but she, unfortunately, died at twenty-seven years of age. The cause of her death is not well known; some claim that she was poisoned while others said she died from overworking herself. When she was alive, Sirani’s works were dedicated to striking allegorical and biblical scenes that featured women. Her portraits of Dahlia and Mary Magdalene portray courageous women. However, a breakthrough in her works was the portrait of “Portia Wounding Her Thigh,” which depicts a bold modern woman.

Rosa Bonheur (1822 – 1899, France)

Bonheur was a realist who learned to be a painter from his father. She is a 19^th-century artist famous for her huge paintings featuring animals. She regularly exhibited her works at the Paris salon, and she was able to find success internationally in both Britain and the United States. Most of her works depicted live animals in motion, and “The Horse Fair” was one of her most significant breakthroughs.

Additionally, Bonheur is celebrated for commitment to breaking gender stereotypes; she wore men’s dresses from 1850, and she even obtained police permission to do so. She was criticized by many for wearing loose blouses and men’s trousers, but she continued to wear them throughout her life. Additionally, Bonheur was a lesbian at a time when lesbianism was frowned upon, even by the government.

Conclusion

As discussed in this essay, women artists during realism and renaissance faced a lot of restrictions and did not get many opportunities to create. The challenges of the time did not, however, deter the women from pursuing their dreams. Many of them fought back the patriarchal systems that suppressed them, and their works continue to influence artworks even today.  Sofonisba Anguissola, Elisabetta Sirani, and Rosa Bonheur are just a few; there are many of them.