Women Painters Through the Centuries

The full extent of the tremendous contributions of women painters since the 16th century is just now being discovered. From the internationally known portrait painters of Elizabeth I and Marie Antoinette, to the mother and child scenes by Mary Cassatt, we’ll explore a variety of women artists since the 16th century.

Judith Leyster, Self-Portrait, 1630, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss, 1949

Judith Leyster, Self-Portrait, 1630, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss, 1949

Women Painters of the 17th Century

The richness of art of women artists from the 17th century will be seen in the religious paintings of the Italian artist Artemisia Gentileschi, the genre paintings of Judith Leyster, and the floral paintings of Maria van Oosterwijck and Rachel Ruych, the latter three all Dutch artists.

The Artist’s Model as Artist

Women have served as artists’ models for centuries and some of these women have become artists themselves. Explore these dual roles in Elizabeth Siddall, Laura Alma-Tadema, Victorine-Louise Meurent, Suzanne Valadon, and Dora Maar.

Adélaïde Labille-Guiard, Self-Portrait with Two Pupils, 1785, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Gift of Julia A. Berwind, 1953

Adélaïde Labille-Guiard, Self-Portrait with Two Pupils, 1785, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Gift of Julia A. Berwind, 1953

Women Floral Painters Through Centuries

Explore the floral paintings of women artists since the 17th century, including Rachel Ruysch, Maria Sibylla Merian, Mary Moser, Berthe Morisot, Mary Cassatt, and Georgia O’Keeffe.

Women Painters of the Impressionists

Explore the varied lives of four women, Mary Cassatt, Berthe Morisot, Marie Bracquemond, and Eve Gonzales, who were part of Impressionism in the late 19th century. Each contributed to this avant guard style in their own unique way.

Mary Cassatt, Little Girl in a Blue Armchair, 1878, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon, 1983

Mary Cassatt, Little Girl in a Blue Armchair, 1878, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon, 1983