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Where are they?

There are lots of famous men artists but where are all the women artists? The truth is that anyone can create art and there’s no difference in talent and skill between women and men. However, in the olden days, women were expected to look after children and their homes, and most of them didn’t have the time to become professional working artists.

PFA webpage12 Image8 Self Portrait in a Straw Hat by Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun Public domain

Against the Odds

Things were harder for woman in the past. They ‘belonged’ to their husbands and were not allowed to own houses or earn their own money. Even Kings were considered to be more important than Queens and when a King died or gave up his job, it would be his oldest son that got the job – even if he had daughters who were older.

But there were some women who did manage to be successful artists despite all of the obstacles in their way.

PFA webpage12 Image9 Lady at her Toilette by Berthe Morisot Public domain

PFA webpage12 Image6 Three Children with a Dog by Sofonisba Anguissola Public domain

PFA webpage12 Image7 Self Portrait as the Allegory of Painting by Artemisia Gentileschi Public domain

Artemesia Gentileschi

Artemesia Gentileschi (1593–1656) was an Italian artist. She was the daughter of an artist and he trained her in his studio. He also trained three of her brothers but Artemesia was clearly the most talented. She had several horrible things happen to her during her life – including some of her children dying when they were babies – but she still managed to have a successful 40 year career as an artist.

Check out the video below …

And there are more

Artemesia is just one woman artist who deserves to better known. Other names include Georgia O’Keeffe, Yayoi Kasuma, Frida Kahlo, Tracey Emin, Louise Bourgeois, Leonora Carrington, Mary Cassatt, Yoko Ono, Bridget Riley, Paula Rego, Laura Knight, Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun, Sofonisba Anguissola, Berthe Morisot, Maggi Hambling … there are so many!

These days there are just as many women artists as men, which is exactly how things should be!

<< Check out the video for a tour around London’s National Gallery to look at some fantastic paintings by women.

YOUR MISSION, SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT …

Kahlo style self portrait

Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) was an artist from Mexico. She was very proud of her Mexican heritage and often painted self-portraits that included things that were important to her. This included Mexican traditional folk art, wildlife and plants.

You can learn about her by watching the video.

Your Task

Now think about how you would tell the world about the things most important to YOU. Create a self-portrait – you can draw or paint it, or make a collage (you could do this with real things or digitally).

Your self-portrait should also include things that are important to you. It could be images that represent your family, friends or hobbies. It could be football, animals, swimming, astronomy, gaming … only you can decide! Or it could be a snapshot of how you feel – happy, sad, confused, excited …

Your finished self-portrait, like Frida Kahlo’s, will tell people more about you than any photograph ever could!

Show Tanno and Iguda your art! Ask an adult to share a photo of your self-portrait with us on Instagram or Facebook: @FunPostcardsFrom