Dowomenhav et obenak edt ogeti nt ot hemetmuseum? Guer r i l l aGi r l s
Ros a Bon h e u r ,‘ t h e gr e a t e s t pa i n t e r of t h e 19t h Ce n t u r y ’ ( Ra c h e l I gn ot of s k y -Wome ni nAr t ) , wa sr e v ol u t i on a r yf orwome na n d qu e e ra r t i s t sof t h ef u t u r e .De s pi t e t h es t r i c ta n dj u dgme n t a lr u l e sof Vi c t or i a ns oc i e t y ,Bon h e u rf or c e d h e ra c c e pt a n c eu ponh e rf e l l ow c i t i z e n st h r ou ghh e ra s t on i s h i n gl y r e a l i s t i cpa i n t i n gsof wi l da n i ma l si n h e rs a i d‘ ma s c u l i n e ’ s t y l e
. Anex ampl eoft hi swasheroi loncanv asHor s eFai rof1855, meas ur i ng 244. 5 cm × 506. 7 cm.Thi smas t er pi ecedepi ct s deal er ss el l i nghor s eswi t ht henot or i oushos pi t al ofSal pêt r i èr et o t hel ef toft heback gr ound.Thehor s esar epai nt edt obev er y mus cul ari naheav i l yt onedanddet ai l eds t y l e.
Peopl e oft he 19t h cent ur y woul d mostl i kel y have per cei ved t hi sst yl e ofar t wor kt o be mor e mascul i ne, opposedt oasof t erandmor ef l or alst yl e,t hatwoul dhave beenexpect edoff emal ear t i st s.Thepai nt i ngcapt ur esa momentofcol ossalener gy ,t heover l appi ngsoundand movementcanal mostbesensedwhi l stobser vi ngi t .Rosa Bonheurpavedt hewayf orphot or eal i st i cpai nt i ngsoft he f ut ur e,asi nst ead off ol l owi ng i nt hef oot st epsofot her ar t i st s ar ound her ,usi ng ant hr opomor phi sm i nt hei r pai nt i ngsofani mal s,shepai nt edt hem assheobser ved t hem t obe.Addi t i onal l y ,i thasbeensuggest edt hatoneof t hehumanf i gur esi nHor seFai ri sasel f por t r ai t ,i tcoul d t her ef or ebesuggest edt hatBonheurt ookt heoppor t uni t y t o expr ess hermascul i ni t yt hr ough herar t ,avoi di ng cr i t i ci sm.
Bonheurs y mbol i s ed r es i l i ence and r ebel l i on f orherer a: educat edal ongs i deherbr ot her sataboy ’ ss chool ,r ef usi ng t owearcor s et sors k i r t sandbei ngi nanopenhomos exual r el at i ons hi p." Iam apai nt er .Ihav eear nedmyl i v i nghones t l y . Mypr i v at el i f ei snobody ' sconcer n"( Ros e Bonheur -The Obs t acl eRace) .Ont hecont r ar yt oherv i ews,Bonheurs t i l l f aced herchal l enges ,f orex ampl e she had t or enew a gover nmentper mi tever ys i xmont hsj us tt obeal l owed t o weart r ouser si npubl i c.
Qui l t erHar r i etPower swasbor ni nt os l av er yi nGeor gi ai n1837.Har r i etwasanot herpower f ulf emal e ar t i s t ,whocr eat edhernowf amous‘ Bi bl equi l t ’ ,depi ct i ngi magesoft hebi bl e.T eachi ngs l av est or ead andwr i t ewasagai ns tt hel aw,howev erHar r i etov er camet hi schal l enget hr oughhert al enti ns t i t chi ngand begans t or yt el l i ngbi bl i cal s t or i est hr oughherqui l t edbl ank et
Sl av esatt het i memadequi l t soutof neces s i t yf orev er y day us e,cons i s t i ngof s cr apf abr i ct hatt heycoul df i nd,howev er noqui l thadev erhadan“ or i gi nal des i gnandnev eral i v i ng cr eat ur epor t r ay edi npat chwor k ”asJ enni eSmi t hs t at esi n al et t eraf t ers eei ngPower ’ squi l twi t hherowney es .I per s onal l yf i r s tl ear ntof t hebeaut ywi t hi nt hequi l t smadeby f emal es l av esaf t err eadi ngf emi ni s twr i t erAl i ceWal k er ’ s book ,TheCol orPur pl ewher e“ ani cepat t er ncal lSi s t er ’ s choi ce”i sdi s cus s edandus edt of or mf r i ends hi psbet ween t hebl ackwomeni nt hebook .Af t erf ur t herr es ear chi ngt hi s , Idi s cov er edt hebeaut i f ulpat t er nscr eat edt hr oughs uch l i t t l er es our cesandi ns uchunf or t unat eci r cums t ances .
Ky r aHi ck ss t at est hat“ Power s 't woqui l t sar ear guabl yt hemos twel l k nownandci t ed cov er i ngsi nAmer i canqui l thi s t or y ”( Ky r aE.Hi ck s -Thi sI Accompl i s h:Har r i etPower s 'Bi bl e Qui l tandOt herPi eces ) .Asawoman,Power si sani ns pi r at i onandat r ul yt al ent edar t i s t . Bei ngabl et ohav eherqui l t sev ent ual l ybecomer ecogni s edandappr eci at edar oundt he wor l d,af t erov er comi nghers t r uggl esi ns l av er yand document i ngi nf or mat i ont hats he r egar dedi mpor t antwi t ht heonl yr es our cess hecoul d,r ef l ect sPower s ’ s t r engt hasawoman andanar t i s t .Thequi l tcons i s t sof11r ect angul arqui l t eds hapes ,eachcont ai ni ngi nt r i cat e det ai l sof i mager yof peopl e,ani mal sandhol ys y mbol s .Thecol our sof t hef abr i car egener al l y neut r alex ceptf oraf ew s t r i k i ngr edt onesandadul l erbl uecol our .Thi scoul dhav ebeen pur pos ef ult oav oi ddet r act i ngf r om t her el i gi ouss t or yt hequi l ti st r y i ngt opor t r ay .“ Power s weav edhers pi r i t ual i s mi nt oherqui l t s ”( Kr i s t i nUr ban-Dai l yAr tMagaz i ne) ,herr el i gi onwast he mos ti mpor t antt hi ngi nherar t .
Anot herex ampl eofPower s ’ wor ki sherqui l tJ i gs aw.Thi squi l tdepi ct s15panel s ,eachagai n wi t hi nt r i cat es t or y t el l i ngandchar act erdet ai l i ng.Thequi l t s ,amongmanyot hert hi ngs ,ar ewhat mak es Power ss uch an empower i ng f emal e ar t i s t ,as s he cr eat ed t he mos ti nt r i cat e, meani ngf ul andbeaut i f ul ar twi t ht het al ents hewasgi v enandus edi tt ot el l s t or i esi nt heonl y wayt hats hek newhowt o.
cr eat est hei l l usi ont hati fsomeonewast ot oucht hef l ower ,i t st ext ur ewoul dbesof tandsmoot h.
f or m ofaJi msonweedofoi lonl i nen,measur i ng180cm ×212cm Theoi loncanvaspai nt i ngl acks
Ji msonWeed/ Whi t ef l ower ,i soneofO’ Keef f e’ smostf amousar t wor ks,t hatconsi st sofabeaut i f ul
i nt r i cat edet ai l ,yett hebasi ct wot onedgr adi ent shel pt omakeupar esembl anceoft hef l owerand
Af t erhav i ngherwor ks ex ual i s edandt hel i ghts t ol enf r om herar tbyher r omance,s hechangedherar tf ocust ot heani mal bonesofMex i co.
Despi t et hi schangeoff ocus,Ji msonWeed/ Whi t ef l owerNo. 1i st hehi ghest sel l i ngar t wor kbyaf emal ear t i stsol dat$44. 4mi l l i on.Howeveri ncr edi bl eof anachi evementt hi si si nf emi ni sthi st or y ,i ti sout shonebyt hehi ghest sel l i ngmal ear t wor k,whi chwassol dat$450. 3mi l l i on-mor et hant ent i mes hi ghert han O’ Keef f e.Though t he ar t wor kswer e cr eat ed atcompl et el y di f f er entt i me per i ods ( O’ Keef f e’ si n 1932 and Da Vi nci ’ si n 1500) , I nt er change,byWi l l i am DeKooni ng1955,wassol df or$300mi l l i onand Spi derbyLoui seBour geoi s1996wassol df or$28. 2mi l l i on.Bot har t wor ks wer ecr eat edwi t hi nt hesamecent ur yandhadt hesamel evelofdet ai l , i nt r i cacyandst andar d-howeverKooni ng’ swor kwasst i l l sol df ormor et han t ent i mest hepr i ceofBour geoi s’ .Ul t i mat el yt hepaygapbet weenmenand womeni nt hef i near t si ndust r y ,i sver ymuchappar entandst i l li st ot hi sday i nal lpr of essi ons.
Fr i da Kahl o,t he Mexi can pai nt erwho i s a wor l dwi de “ symboloff emi ni sm”( RachelI gnot of sky-WomenI nAr t ) , wasaver yi mpor t antandi nf l uent i alf i gur er epr esent i ng t he r ej ect i on ofwest er n beaut y st andar ds.Herwor k combi ned Mexi can f ol kar tand magi calr eal i sm i nt he pai nt i ngs she cr eat ed t ot el lt he st or i es ofherown physi calandemot i onalpai ni nast yl et hatcel ebr at edher her i t age.RachelI gnot of skyst at es“ Shemademor et han 140pai nt i ngsat hi r dofwhi chwer esel f por t r ai t s”:t hese por t r ai t sexpl or edheri dent i t yofherunshavenf aceand pavedt hewayf orbodyandf aci alhai ronwoment obe accept ed,i nt hesamewayi ti sf ormen.
Si st er s-anonymousar t i st .Thepai nt i nghasnumer ousi nt er pr et at i onsf r om di f f er entcr i t i cs.
Chassér i au' sThe T wo Si st er sand t he pai nt i ng Gabr i el l e d' Est r éesand One ofHer
measur i ng 173. 5 cm × 173 cm,whi ch was i nf l uenced by t he wor k ofThéodor e
OneofKahl o’ smostnot abl epai nt i ngswast he1939,oi loncanvasTheT woFr i das,
Oneoft hesebei ngt hatt hepai nt i ngr epr esent st het wosi desofKahl o’ sher i t age:showi ng t hef i gur esdr essedi n“ Eur opeanandt r adi t i onalT ehuanacl ot hi ng”( RachelI gnot of skyWomenI nAr t ) . Thel ef tFr i dai scl ot hedi nawhi t eEur opeandr ess,asherf at herwas Ger man,howevert her i ghtFr i dai si naMexi canT ehuanadr ess,ashermot herwas Mexi can.A second i nt er pr et at i onoft hepai nt i ng,i st hat :t hel ef tFr i da“ symbol i zesa ver si onoft hear t i stwhoi swoundedbyt hepastbuti sal soconnect edbyanar t er yt oa secondsel f ”( I seul tGi l l espi e-T edEd) .At hi r di nt er pr et at i oni st hat“ t heT ehuanaFr i dai s t heonewhowasador edbyherhusbandDi egoRi ver a,whi l et heEur opeanFr i dai st he onet hatwasr ej ect edbyhi m”( Andr eaKet t enmann-Fr i daKahl o,19071954:Pai nand Passi on) .Thewashycol our soft hepai nt i ng’ sbackgr ound,ar er at herdul landt r oubl ed, excl udi ngaf ewbr i ght ercol our sf eat ur edi nt heT ehuanadr ess.Thi sl i nkst ot hei mager y ofamor ecompl et eFr i daasherhear ti sal sof ul l ,opposedt ot heot hert hati sbr oken.The r angeoft onesi nt hepai nt i ngar emi ni mal ,suggest i ngal essphot or eal i st i ci mageand mor eofanabst r actst yl e.Ther ef or e,i tcoul dbesuggest edt hatt hepor t r ai t sar enotar eal exi st i ng
per sona,
however
one
t hat
exi st s
i n
Kahl o’ s
mi nd.
Kahl o’ s sel f r epr esent at i on ofherher i t age t hr ough herwor ki na Eur opeansoci et y ,wasdescr i bedasan“ uncompr omi si ngdepi ct i on oft hef emal eexper i enceandf or m”( Br oude,Nor ma;Gar r ar d,Mar y DTheExpandi ng di scour se:f emi ni sm and ar thi st or y)and t hi si s whatmakeshert he“ symboloff emi ni sm”t hatshei snow,i nmoder n daysoci et y .Femi ni st st odayappr oveofherwor k,ast hef i ghtagai nst st i gmaofbodyhai ronwomeni sst i l lver yappar entt ot hi sday .Fr i da unapol oget i cal l yr ef usedt ohi deherf aci al hai randnat ur al f eat ur esas ayoungMexi canwoman,i nspi r i ngpeopl eoft odayt ounashamedl y expr esst hei rt r uei dent i t y .
WhatIhavecl ear l ydemonst r at edi nt heanal ysi soft hesef our f emal ear t i st s,i st hatal lhavef acedavar yi ngl evelofst r uggl e i nt hei rl i f et i me,ei t herper sonal l yori nt hei rcar eer s,wi t hone common f eat ur e: pr ej udi ce. Rosa Bonheur , al t hough event ual l yaccept edandpr ai sedf orhert al ent ,f oughtf orher accept ance i n soci et y as a l esbi an and f ort he way she dr essed.Har r i etPower s,r osef r om sl aver y ,usedherqui l t i ng ski l l st odocumentherr el i gi onandsol dherbel ovedqui l t si n or dert osur vi ve,butherar t i st i cski l l swer eneverr ecogni sedi n herl i f et i me.O’ Keef f e’ sbot ani calpai nt i ngscamet oaf or ced end, af t er t he mi si nt er pr et at i on of t hei rt r ue meani ng, domi nat edbysexualpr ej udi ceandobj ect i f i cat i on.Fi nal l y ,t he wor kofFr i daKahl o,whowasl at err ecogni sedast he“ symbol off emi ni sm” ,l i vedi nt heshadowofherhusband’ sar t wor kand wasnotf ul l yappr eci at edunt i laf t erherdeat h.
Af t ert heMus eum OfModer nAr ti nNew Yor k hel das ur veyexhi bi t i oni n1984,whi c hwas
“c ons i der edt obet hemos ti mpor t antar toft het i me”,agr oupofwomendi s c over edt hat“out
ofahundr edands i xt yni near t i s t sonl y13wer ewomenandal lt hear t i s t swer ewhi t eandf r om
E ur opeort heUS ”( T heAr tAs s i gnment -F i er c eWomenOfAr t ) .T hi swast hebi r t hofaf emi ni s t
f emal e ar tc ol l ec t i ve t hatgo byt he name oft he ʻ Guer r i l l a Gi r l s ʼ .Af t ert he f ai l ur e oft hei r
or gani s ed event sofpi c ket i ng,t hegr oup begana s er i esofnew t ac t i c s .Pos t er sand s t i c ker s
di s pl ayi nghar dhi t t i ngs t at i s t i c soft hegenderi mbal anc ewi t hi nmus eumsandgal l er i eswer e
pl as t er edar oundt hec i t yandi n1989t heyor c hes t r at edaweeni ec ount ,c ompar i ngt heamount
off emal enudepai nt i ngst omal e.T her es ul t swer epr es ent edi nt he1989s c r eenpr i nt edpaper
bi l l boar d pos t erdes i gn:ʻ Do women havet o benaked t o geti nt ot heMetMus eum?ʼ .T he
s t at i s t i c swer el at erupdat edi n2005and2012i nor dert okeept hei rwor kt i mer el evant .
T hepos t erhasas t r i ki ngbol ds er i fʻ F ut ur ac ondens edext r abol dʼt ypef ac e,whi c hwoul dat t r ac t t heat t ent i onofanypas s er s byont hec ont r as t i ngyel l ow bac kgr ound.T hei magei ss ampl ed f r om t hef amousf emal enudeoi lonc anvaspai nt i ngL aGr andeOdal i s que.T hi swaspai nt edby t hemal er enai s s anc ear t i s tJ eanAugus t eDomi ni queI ngr es ,wi t ht heai m ofmaki ngt hewoman appears educ t i ve:l ooki ngt owar dst hevi ewer ,nakedands howi ngonl yherbac kandpar tofher br eas t .T hec hoi c eofi mageher ei sc l ear l yver ys i gni fic antandr el evantt ot hemes s aget he Guer r i l l aGi r l sar ei nt endi ngt opor t r ay. T hewomanʼ sf ac ei sc over edwi t hamas kofagor i l l a, i nt ent i onal l yus edbyt hegr oupt oi nduc eal evelofhumouri nt ot hei rwor k,wi t ht hepl ayon t hewor di nt hei rt i t l e:ʻ Guer i l l aʼ .T hi sai dst heobs er veroft hepos t ert ohaveahi gherl evelof i nt er es ti nt ot hepi ec ei t s el fandt ol i s t ent ot hemes s agewi t hamor el i ght hear t edappr oac ht o aver ys er i ousandnec es s ar ys ubj ec t .T hegr oupc ont i nuet hes ymbol i s m ofagor i l l amas kby wear i ngt hem whent heyappeari npubl i c .Bydoi ngt hi st heyc anr emai nanonymoust ot he out s i dewor l d,c onc ealt hei ri ndi vi duali dent i t i esandpr ot ec tt hei rc ar eer s .Addi t i onal l y,t heygo byt henamesoff amousdec eas edf emal ear t i s t s ,s uc hasF r i daKahl o,whoher s el fquot ed:
“I fyouʼ r ei nas i t uat i onwher eyouʼ r eal i t t l e af r ai dt os peakup,putamas kon.Youwonʼ t bel i eve whatc omes outofyourmout h”. Unf or t unat el y,onl yemphas i s i ngt heGuer i l l aGi r l spoi ntoft heover s exual i s at i onofwomeni n s oc i et y,af t err ent i ngandr unni ngt hei rownadver t i s ements pac ef ort hepos t eronNew Yor kCi t y bus es ,t heGuer i l l aGi r l sexpl ai nedhow “t hebusc ompanyc anc el l edourl eas e,s ayi ngt hatt he i mage… wast oos ugges t i veandt hatt hefigur eappear edt ohavemor et hanaf ani nherhand. ”.
I nconcl usi ont heunder r epr esent at i onofwomeni nar tt hr oughhi st or yhasf ai l edt oceaseasan i ssuei nmoder ndaysoci et y .Af t eri nt er vi ewi ngsever alacquai nt ancesofmysel f ,anyper sonwho hadbasi cgener alknowl edgeofar t ,st r uggl edt onameanyf amousf emal ear t i standcoul donl y namemal ear t i st ssuchas‘ DaVi nci ’‘ Gogh’and‘ Pi casso’ .Asanaspi r i ngar t i standdesi gner mysel f ,t hi si sapr obl em Iai mt oi mpr ove,i npr oduci ngwor kl i ket hear tcol l ect i ve:t heGuer i l l a Gi r l s, whi ch
di r ect l y t ar get gender i nequal i t y i ssues wi t hi n
soci et y t oday .
Asi ti sevi dentt hr ought heanal ysi soft hef ourar t i st s:Bonheur ,Power s,O’ Keef f eandKahl o, f emal ear t i st shavecer t ai nl ycomeal ongwayi nt hei rj our neyt of ame,f i ght i ngst er eot ypes, r est r i ct i onsandpr ej udi ce.However ,al loft hesewomenmanagedt oover comet hesei ssues, t hr ought hei rt al entandt hebeaut yofar t -al t houghsomet i mesaf t ert heyhaddeceased.Ar tasa f or m ofexpr essi onandedi f i cat i oni ssoi mpor t antf ort heongoi ngf ut ur ef i ghtf ort her i ght sof women.
:h ttp s ://w w w .g u e rrilla g irls .c o m /, ht t ps: / / www. t at e. or g. uk/ pr ess/ pr essr el eases/ t at emoder nshowi coni cf l ower pai nt i nggeor gi aokeef f e, ht t ps: / / en. wi ki pedi a. or g/ wi ki / Har r i et _Power s#Wor k, https://w w w .guerrillagirls.com /projects, https://www.dailyartm agazine.com /harriet-powers/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Horse_Fair, https://en.wi ki pedi a.org/wi ki /Ji mson_W eed_(pai nti ng), https://www. ww biography.com /artist/georgia-okeeffe, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Two_Fridas, ht t ps: / / www. t at e. or g. uk/ ar t / ar t wor ks/ guer r i l l agi r l sdowomenhavet obenakedt o -g e t-in to -th e -m e t-m u s e u m -p 7 8 7 9 3 , https://www.l ouvre.fr/en/oeuvre-noti ces/une-odal i sque, ht t ps: / / en. wi ki pedi a. or g/ wi ki / Gr ande_Odal i sque#: ~: t ext =Gr ande%20Odal i sque% 2C%20al so%20known%20as%20Une%20Odal i sque%20or , Neocl assi ci sm%2C% 20i ndi cat i ng%20a%20shi f t %20t owar d%20exot i c%20Romant i ci sm%20. , ht t ps: / / w w w .b io g ra p h y.c o m /a rtist/frid a -ka h lo , https://www.youtube.com /watch?v=UZNItkCi0wA, Fi er ce Women of Ar t | The Ar t Assi gnment | PBS Di gi t al St udi os, ht t ps: / / www. yout ube. com/ wat ch?v=B9XYt PqWLB4,The PowerofFemi ni stAr t : TheAmer i canMovementoft he1970s,Hi st or yandI mpact ,Thi sIAccompl i sh: Har r i etPower s'Bi bl e Qui l tand Ot herPi eces,The Col orPur pl e,Recl ai mi ng Femal eAgency:Femi ni stAr tHi st or yAf t erPost moder ni sm,WomenI nAr t -Rachel
ALICIA HARTLEY