Throughout the middle
ages, women were subjected to various unjust forms of oppression.
For example, “In the middle ages, women were mostly excluded in
highly professionalized forms of art production like painting and sculpture and
a larger number of craft productions.” (Chadwick 43). A woman rarely had
authorship over what she created. They were perceived as tools or accessories
in fulfilling the ambitions of their fathers or husbands. According to
the Guerrilla Girls, “Women were the virtual prisoners to the men in their
lives” (Guerrilla Girls; chapter 2, page 19). The patriarchal church (Catholic)
body encouraged women to be submissive to their husbands or fathers. They were
perceived to be inferior beings, “The Church’s hierarchical organization
reinforced the class distinctions in society; its patriarch dogma included a
full set of theories on the natural inferiority of women which can be traced
back to Ancient Greece and the Old Testament.” (Chadwick; chapter one, page
44). The destinies of women were tied to marriage, and they had no rights
outside marriage. Their families were required to come up with their dowries in
other to marry them off. They couldn’t own land or property. If a woman’s
family couldn’t afford to marry her off, she was sent to the convent/nunnery.
The only time a woman had some rights or wiggle room to express themselves was
when they joined the abbey to become a nun. For this reason, most women
intentionally opted not to marry because they preferred the privileges that
come with Nun-hood such as education, power and respect. Widows were afforded a
little leniency as compared to the unmarried and married women. There was no
recognition for women artist. They were confined to household craftwork such as
embroidery and needlework, tapestry etc. The benefits of becoming a nun is
evident in the life of Herrad of Landsberg. After 1170 as an educated nun she
was able to author a book called, “Garden of Delights”. Inside
it, she dedicated, “Hortus Deliciarum,” a miniature illustration
showing six rows of female heads(nuns) including their names. Another nun who
benefited through the convent was Hildegard of Bingen who also created
manuscripts and was highly revered and respected.
 |
Herrad of Landsberg, Hortus
Deliciarum, after 1170
|
In the renaissance era, feudalism and the church became
weaker as the mercantilism arose. The advent of the printing press accelerated
a human shift in the exploration of ideas outside the church through writings.
People began to question the church and its role as different world view arose.
In other words, there was a mental shift, as people became aware of themselves
outside the church. The new possibility of authorship brought about the
emergence of the middle class. This meant one could build wealth. This new
market economy was in competition with spirituality. In the middle ages when
you are born wealthy or poor, u stay there forever, but the market
economy(money) in the renaissance made it possible to switch social classes. In
the middle ages, the Church and Monarchy were the main commissioners of work,
but mercantilism and the breakdown of feudalism brought about new patrons(new
money). Women were still disadvantaged in the renaissance period. Although
women were restricted in this era, the pattern observed was that women were
able to take up a profession or pursue one, when they are born into it.
For example, If a woman’s father is a doctor, its easier for doors to open for
her within that field. This is how a lot of women artist had the opportunity to
practice as an artist. Women artist/painters such as Sofonisba Anguissola and
Artemisia Gentileschi, are among the lucky few who were able to pursue a career
as an artist due to the support of their fathers who were painters. This way,
they were supported by their fathers and had access to their connections.
Fathers and husbands became a checkmark that allows women certain
opportunities. The existence of women painters made it possible for women
to paint women through their lens. Women patrons were now able to commission
works where the patrons were the subjects. Artist like Artemisia
Gentileschi was very articulate in their expression as a painter and challenged
the patriarchal depiction of women through her compositions. Her version of
“Susanna and the elders” 1610 and “ Judith and her maidservant” 1610, speaks
volume about her approach. Bologna was the only city that provides spaces
for women to be educated segregated away from men. Public areas were considered
as a place for men whiles women were relegated to private spaces at home.
 |
| Artemisia Gentileschi, Susanna and the Elders, 1610 |
At the turn of the century, the Industrial Revolution in
Europe, including United states of America was dealing with different issues
and social structures. Expansionism, the idea of manifest destiny, began to
shape the American landscape. Women were giving some different status in the
dynamics of everyday runnings in America. America afforded women some leniency.
Although the atmosphere was still disadvantageous to women, it was slightly
different from Europe. For example, some women were able to acquire land under
the names of men. In the 1920s women got the right to vote. The idea of
domesticity was very prevalent. The ordinary life of people was portrayed
in paintings. Women were expected to keep the home. Through domestic feminism
women used domestic subjects to bring about reforms. The ordinary life of a
women or women of colour who were shut out of public spaces took action through
their artworks to spark conversations on social reforms. For example, the quilt
became political during the time of emancipation. Before the end of the civil
war. Harriet powers made quilt political. They use of symbols, and quilt became
important to the abolitionists. Abolitionist houses used a quilt as an
identifier.
Works Cited
Chadwick, Whitney. Women,
Art and Society. 5th ed., Thames and Hudson, 2015.
The Guerrilla Girls'
Bedside Companion to the History of Western Art. Penguin Books,
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