About My Project:
My project chronicles women artists’ depiction of women from the renaissance to today. I am planning on preparing for the project by studying art history. I will study general trends from Renaissance art to today. Through my portraiture I want to feature the influence of female artists such as, Artemisia Gentileschi, Louise Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun, Mary Cassatt, Frida Kahlo and Cindy Sherman. The first of my project is doing research on these artists and how they viewed the female form. The next part of my project is painting the portraits based on the trends I captured. I’m planning on painting 5 portraits one for each period of history, but I could paint less or more depending on time frame. After I’m finished painting I’m interested in hanging some of my paintings in the learning commons.
Why It Matters:
Through the presentation of my art, I want to pay homage to the great women artists of history, and help others gain a better understanding of how portraiture can be used to empower women. My exhibition is part art history lesson, part art appreciation and part gender studies appreciation. I chose these artists because they used their art to express their own reality and create social change. These women overcame many challenges and barriers due to their sex, which makes their art more miraculous and nuanced. Additionally, these artists capture emotions such as pain, rejection, determination, and inadequacy and these emotions are all part of my experience as an artist. I hope my paintings are able to capture nuanced emotions and illicit awe in my audience. Although I desire that my exhibitions will inspire others to learn more about art and history, I believe that the journey of completing this project will help me learn about myself as an artist and gain a greater appreciation for portraiture in the process.
My project chronicles women artists’ depiction of women from the renaissance to today. I am planning on preparing for the project by studying art history. I will study general trends from Renaissance art to today. Through my portraiture I want to feature the influence of female artists such as, Artemisia Gentileschi, Louise Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun, Mary Cassatt, Frida Kahlo and Cindy Sherman. The first of my project is doing research on these artists and how they viewed the female form. The next part of my project is painting the portraits based on the trends I captured. I’m planning on painting 5 portraits one for each period of history, but I could paint less or more depending on time frame. After I’m finished painting I’m interested in hanging some of my paintings in the learning commons.
Why It Matters:
Through the presentation of my art, I want to pay homage to the great women artists of history, and help others gain a better understanding of how portraiture can be used to empower women. My exhibition is part art history lesson, part art appreciation and part gender studies appreciation. I chose these artists because they used their art to express their own reality and create social change. These women overcame many challenges and barriers due to their sex, which makes their art more miraculous and nuanced. Additionally, these artists capture emotions such as pain, rejection, determination, and inadequacy and these emotions are all part of my experience as an artist. I hope my paintings are able to capture nuanced emotions and illicit awe in my audience. Although I desire that my exhibitions will inspire others to learn more about art and history, I believe that the journey of completing this project will help me learn about myself as an artist and gain a greater appreciation for portraiture in the process.
Meet the Artists: Artemisia Gentileschi
Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1653) was an Italian painter who painted biblical scenes starring women as a subtle protest against the exploitation of women.
Period: Baroque. This period is characterized by biblical messages, use of dark and light colors and pessimism.
Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1653) was an Italian painter who painted biblical scenes starring women as a subtle protest against the exploitation of women.
Period: Baroque. This period is characterized by biblical messages, use of dark and light colors and pessimism.
Meet the Artists: Louise Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun
Louise Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun (1755-1842) was a french painter who painted portraits of women that captured their inner beauty rather than their class.
Period: Rococo. This period is characterized by the use of light pastel colors, the depiction of beauty and romance, and pastoral landscapes.
Louise Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun (1755-1842) was a french painter who painted portraits of women that captured their inner beauty rather than their class.
Period: Rococo. This period is characterized by the use of light pastel colors, the depiction of beauty and romance, and pastoral landscapes.
Meet the Artists: Mary Cassatt
Mary Cassatt (1844-1926) was an American painter living in Paris who created images of the social and private lives of women, with particular emphasis on the intimate bonds between mothers and children.
Period: Impressionist. This period was characterized by a focus on light, and nature, the idea of capturing the feelings that an image evokes rather than painting it directly, the use of spectrum colors and focus on humans and nature.
Mary Cassatt (1844-1926) was an American painter living in Paris who created images of the social and private lives of women, with particular emphasis on the intimate bonds between mothers and children.
Period: Impressionist. This period was characterized by a focus on light, and nature, the idea of capturing the feelings that an image evokes rather than painting it directly, the use of spectrum colors and focus on humans and nature.
Meet the Artists: Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) was a Mexican artist who channeled the pain of her childhood accident, and abusive relationships into nuanced self portraits.
Period: Historians have tried to classify Frida as Surrealism or magic realism but she rejected both these labels. She was quoted saying "I paint from life not dreams."
Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) was a Mexican artist who channeled the pain of her childhood accident, and abusive relationships into nuanced self portraits.
Period: Historians have tried to classify Frida as Surrealism or magic realism but she rejected both these labels. She was quoted saying "I paint from life not dreams."