Amaree St. Juste
The transformation from the “male gaze” style art work in the Middle Ages to the Renaissance Era showed little to no change in the gender roles of women. Although the women depicted in the art work had gone from being fully nude and observable, the oppressive structures of gender roles were still being manifested in the artwork by male artists. The women artist of the Renaissance through the 19 Century carried the major responsibility of showing how gender roles impacted women, despite women being wealthy or poor. The stories of how women were perceived and their actions had very different perspectives depending on if the artist was male or female. Women artist captured the stories of women who were suffering in different aspects because of gender roles. The art created by women also demonstrated the strength of women as they endured gender violence. Although Artemisia Gentileschi was not an artist of the 19th Century she was apart of the movement of women in between the Renaissance and the 19th Century that wanted women to have a more positive and productive depiction. For example Artemisia Gentileschi’s father Orazio Gentileschi depicted two scared and distressed women in his piece titled, “Judith and Her Maidservant with the Head of Holofernes.” The women in the painting just killed a general who was going to siege their home. The stereotypes of women being weak and uncalculated are displayed in their posture.
However, when Artemisia depicts Judith and her servant, the women are determined and focus. This a brutal depiction of women empowerment, however we see women in the opposite of being weak or needing men for support.
The assumed gender roles of women from the Renaissance to the 19th Century left women disenfranchised and prevented them ever being independent, more importantly being successful as people independent of men. Women were unable to learn how to read because they were not permitted into schools. The only way that women would be permitted to learn is if they were wealthy and permitted by their fathers. Women had strict definitions of their duties which was centered around domestic work or being involved mothers. Women were unable to defend or protect themselves from the abusive power men subjected them to. Not allowing women to be equal to me or obtain the same opportunities is considered gender violence and women’s rights were certainly being abused. Even more disturbing women could not protect themselves from the peversions of men, Guerilla Girls describes the rape of Artemisia Gentileschi and adds in a side not that, “women were not allowed to bring charges in court” (Guerilla Girls 36). Gentileschi’s father had to bring charges against her rapist. This is an example of some of the attacks that deprived women dignity and justice. The rules that were set in place for women originated from the idea that women cannot live without the instruction of men.
The roles of women still did not change through from the Renaissance into the 19C however women were beginning to resort to strategies that would help them tell the narratives of women with more progressive perspectives. Additionally, another change for women artists was the ability to experiment with different mediums. With more resources and more technology women were able to experiment with different mediums such as textiles, sculptures, and photography. The women depicted during Ancient Greek and Renaissance were to be observed however the 19 Century artist used neoclassical style artwork and made the women in the paintings have a more realistic depiction of their lives. A lot of the women artists moved from the United States to Rome to find a system of women artists who would support each other’s work. Rosa Bonheur was the pioneer of artists moving to Rome in hopes to perfect their work and gain recognition. The realistic and non-sexual depictions of women were a positive and significant change brought on by the women artist of the 19th Century. In addition to the more accurate narratives of women’s lives being displayed through art, women demonstrated their versatility compared to men by using textiles and sculpting. Edmonia Lewis created neoclassical style sculptures that attributed to her native Chippewa heritage. Although marble and bronze were mediums used by artists in the Renaissance, Edmonia wanted to show the strength and authenticity of her by working with more tedious mediums. Guerilla Girls states, “Edmonia did all her own marble carving, partly to save money and partly to prove that a black woman could do it” (Guerilla Girls 51). She created “The Death of Cleopatra” to depict the fierce and uncompromising characteristics of women.
The gender roles of women did not change from the Renaissance to the 19th Century but the artist of the era took responsibility to giving women more realistic and human features. The depictions of women went from being submissive and weak to being strong and independent.
Women were still being confined to traditional gender roles. Although most of the artists were higher on the aristocrat hierarchy they were still subjected to trivial rules that lessened the individuality. Artists like Camille Claudel were still being judged based on their sexuality. Sex and sexuality were not innapropriatee concepts for men however women did not have jurisdiction over their bodies. Artist like Rosa Bonheur had to have a permit to cross-dress, essentially dress like a man. Clothes and gender identification should not have been an issue, women were unable to dress the way they pleased. They were confined to the outfits only women wore and had to get permission from men. Additional Claudel work was considered indecent although her boyfriend Auguste Rodin was exploring sexual ideas, just as she was. The text states, “But that same eroticism in the work of a woman was shocking and indecent. Camille lost commissions because of it”. (Guerilla Girls 57). Men were under the impression that the work of women was insignificant to their. Although many women were winning prizes and had famous works men still discredited their work because they were women. Artist like Emily Mary Osburn painted “Nameless and Friendless” to show that women were suffering under the restrictions of gender roles. There is a woman and her son and it can be assumed that she is trying to sell her artwork. The men in the photo are dismissing her artwork and it can also be assumed that her work will not be sold to the buyer of that art gallery.
Women artist made huge strides in exhibiting normal women in genuine and noble positions, however just because the artists were influential and insightful they were still women who needed to remain in their gender roles from the perspective of men.
MLA Citations
Li, Claudio. “The Death of Cleopatra” Sartle , 14 October, 2019. https://www.sartle.com/artwork/the-death-of-cleopatra-edmonia-lewis
Singer, James. “Painting of the Week: Artemisia Gentileschi, Judith Slaying Holofernes” Daily Art Magazine, 13 October 2019.
The Guerrilla Girls' Bedside Companion to the History of Western Art. New York: Penguin Books, 1998. Print.
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