The Story of Women and Art...available on iPlayer

A great mini-series by the BBC: link-->The Story of Women and Art...available on iPlayer for 7 more days.

From the cloistered world of Renaissance Italy and Catholic Spain, through an era of revolution and enlightenment in Britain and France, to the harsh desert landscape of New Mexico of the early 20th century, Professor Vickery will uncover the incredible stories of talented and tenacious women who throughout history have overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles to fulfil their artistic ambitions.

She does so with a view to challenging the idea that the constraints put on women’s self expression have kept them in the back seat. While only a small percentage of work in the world’s most illustrious galleries and museums is by women, the female imagination has never ceased to break through and to challenge and re-define our idea of what art can be. Amanda will look at how particular women tackled the world of male dominated art head on and, in so doing, drove it in new directions. Along the way, she will explore why the achievements of so many female practitioners has remained unrecognized and unsung.

Broaden the angle of focus beyond painting and sculpture - from textiles and fashion to interior and garden design - and a universe of female creativity becomes even more apparent. And it’s not just the visual impact that can be felt but an emotional one too. As the series will show, women’s art has changed how we feel as well as what we see.

Spanning 500 years and ending mid-20th century, the series will reveal a dazzling array of artistry - much of which has been too easily forgotten. But through the stories of some of the key artists of the period, Amanda will show the myriad ways creative women have made a vital and significant contribution to our art history

I thought it was particularly interesting that some of the stories were about how these artists had to bypass various constraints such as gender prejudices and cultural expectations (crafts are not art, not being allowed to draw male nudes etc), and even  their own shortcomings like extreme short-sightedness. Instead of being defeated, they turned them to their often revolutionary advantage to excel. A good lesson for us all, regardless of gender.

Wei