Now you see us: women artists in Britain 1520-1920

Abstract

"Spanning 400 years, this exhibition follows women on their journeys to becoming professional artists. From Tudor times to the First World War, artists such as Mary Beale, Angelica Kauffman, Elizabeth Butler and Laura Knight paved a new artistic path for generations of women. They challenged what it meant to be a working woman of the time by going against society's expectations - having commercial careers as artists and taking part in public exhibitions. Including over 150 works, the show dismantles stereotypes surrounding women artists in history, who were often thought of as amateurs. Determined to succeed and refusing to be boxed in, they daringly painted what were usually thought to be subjects for male artists: history pieces, battle scenes and the nude. The exhibition sheds light on how these artists championed equal access to art training and academy membership, breaking boundaries and overcoming many obstacles to establish what it meant to be a woman in the art world"--Publisher's description.

Contents

Faint footprints in the sand / Tabitha Barber -- Travelling hopefully / Pamela Gerrish Nunn -- Women at the Tudor court -- Artemisia Gentileschi -- The first professionals -- The first exhibitors -- Painting for 'amusement' -- Victorian spectacle -- Women and watercolour -- Photography -- Art school -- Being Modern 1900-1920.