Existing comment:
The Nineteenth Century in Europe and the United States
While a few women artists achieved great success in the eighteenth century, many struggled to find proper training. The nineteenth century ushered in radical social changes, including new educational opportunities and growing support for women's rights. In both Europe and the US, women gained marginal admittance to art academies beginning in the 1860s.
Because of their gender, women were prohibited from studying the nude figure until the end of the century. This constraint limited their engagement with historical and mythological subjects, which were exalted by art critics of the time. Many women selected subjects accessible through their immediate experience: domestic scenes, still lifes, and portraiture. Like their seventeenth- and eighteenth-century counterparts, women who succeeded professionally often received training and support from their artistic families.
A number of American artists traveled to Europe at the end of the century, with Paris as a favorite destination. The city was then the center of the western art world and offered many opportunities for artists to exhibit their works. Some artists remained abroad while others returned from Europe and helped found arts institutions in the US Women artists were integral to the advancement of avant-garde movements such as impressionism in American culture. |