Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?

The author, Linda Nochlin, addressed this question in her 1971 essay. She discussed the role that women have played in society as a major roadblock to ‘greatness’. She states, “Everything that is usual appears natural.” And for hundreds of years the ‘usual’ state of things was that women were inferior to men and, along with other minorities, were not given the advantages of the white, middle and upper class males. Nochlin also lays blame on our educational institutions, where women, until fairly recently, were not given an equal education.

Mary Anne Staniszewski, in Believing is Seeing, refers to this same issue. She states, “The ability to do something- the power to achieve, rule, invent, and create- is founded upon an individual’s belief that he or she has the right to do it. An individual must have faith in his or her ability, and then, most important, there must be access to the arenas of achievement and power.” (p. 128)     

Like both authors, I originally took the art history that is presented at face value. I never stopped to consider why there were no women in the early chapters. I tend to see history for just that- what happened, happened. Taking a closer look, I understand why there have been no ‘Great’ women artists. It was the social order of life. Until that began to change women were not given the opportunity or time, to become great, even if they had possessed the raw talent.

Nochlin and Staniszewski both go on to discuss ‘genius’. Nochlin discusses genius or greatness as something that is built up little by little from the time you are born, by family and education. This supports the fact that males achieved this greatness, since they were given more attention and opportunities to learn and explore than females. Staniszewski sums this up by saying, “We have now come to realize, however, that the concept of genius- this natural gift to create- is, rather, a talent developed thanks to privilege.” (p.125)

Of course, in recent decades the role of women, and minorities, in society has changed. Many more are given opportunities. There have been many women artists beginning in the early 20th century, and many more today. Have any of them achieved ‘Greatness’? I guess that depends on the definition of greatness that you chose to use- one defined by a white, middle class male or your own.