Why did their names vanish for 3 centuries? Discover the incredible journey of 4 masters from Antwerp to Amsterdam and how they finally reclaimed their legacy.
Last weekend of April my wife and I attended the last days of an exhibit on Women Abstract Expressionists at the Muselle Museum at William and Mary College. Now abstract expressionism does not appeal to every taste, but I am a big fan. I was delighted to see so many excellent works, arguably some of them masterpieces by women you’ve heard of (Joan Mitchell, Helen Frankenthaler, Lee Krasner) and by some you’ve likely not. Absolutely stunning. It is so great to get these “lost” pieces into the available art canon.
Thank you so much for writing about this <3 I'm currently reading a book called "Unknown/Anonymous is a woman's name" by Andrea Martínez (sorry, I translated the title from Spanish because sadly it is not yet translated to English) and it talks about this topic too, mostly across literature. What an important matter to reflect and correct!!
Thank you for shining light on it. I wish I could go to this exhibition, will tell my friends in Ghent about it :)
I have one point of disagreement. You identify the bacchante or maenade on the right side of the large Bacchus canvas as a self portrait of Michaela Wautier. I don’t think it’s a self portrait at all, as the figure is clearly a participant in, not an observer of, the procession. As a maenad she carries the thyrsus and bares a breast (unlikely in a self portrait). The maenad doesn’t resemble Michaela in her self portrait with a palette. Finally, the outward gaze as a device to engage the viewer was well known and recommended in the 1400’s by Leon Battista Alberti.
Last weekend of April my wife and I attended the last days of an exhibit on Women Abstract Expressionists at the Muselle Museum at William and Mary College. Now abstract expressionism does not appeal to every taste, but I am a big fan. I was delighted to see so many excellent works, arguably some of them masterpieces by women you’ve heard of (Joan Mitchell, Helen Frankenthaler, Lee Krasner) and by some you’ve likely not. Absolutely stunning. It is so great to get these “lost” pieces into the available art canon.
Thank you for sharing, what is the name of this exhibition?
Alas, the exhibition ended. Here is the link:
https://muscarelle.wm.edu/exhibition/abstract-expressionists-the-women/
Cool
Good news. It appears this exhibition will be travelling to other venues:
https://blackbird.vcu.edu/review-abstract-expressionists-the-women/
Thank you so much for writing about this <3 I'm currently reading a book called "Unknown/Anonymous is a woman's name" by Andrea Martínez (sorry, I translated the title from Spanish because sadly it is not yet translated to English) and it talks about this topic too, mostly across literature. What an important matter to reflect and correct!!
Thank you for shining light on it. I wish I could go to this exhibition, will tell my friends in Ghent about it :)
Many thanks for such an interesting article.
I have one point of disagreement. You identify the bacchante or maenade on the right side of the large Bacchus canvas as a self portrait of Michaela Wautier. I don’t think it’s a self portrait at all, as the figure is clearly a participant in, not an observer of, the procession. As a maenad she carries the thyrsus and bares a breast (unlikely in a self portrait). The maenad doesn’t resemble Michaela in her self portrait with a palette. Finally, the outward gaze as a device to engage the viewer was well known and recommended in the 1400’s by Leon Battista Alberti.
So inspiring. Beautiful!