Week 4: "Why have there been no great women artists?" (in process)

 

Artemisia Gentileschi, Judith Slaying Holofernes, 1620–21, oil on canvas, 162.5 x 199 cm (Uffizi Gallery, Florence).

     Why there isn't any great women artists is a sexist question. This question is bad because it alludes to the superiority of men. The question may be asked because when women create artwork is can be viewed as more feminine. Femininity is stereotypically associated with being gentle, motherly, innocent, cooperative, and emotional. In the eyes of misogynists or people with internalized misogyny, being feminine is considered as bad. This is a learned trait taught by men. Especially privileged men. 

     Aristocrats were expected to devote their lives to other matters. For women, the other matters were things like raising a family, while their husbands were studying to be artists. Women weren't offered the same education as men therefor women weren't found as often as men in the art field.