Unseen Maestras
The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum recently unveiled an innovative exhibition that places a powerful emphasis on female artists who have often been overlooked and underrepresented in the art world. Titled "Maestras" (Women Masters), this extraordinary exhibition delves into the lives and works of female artists who have been erased from the history they helped define, thereby illuminating the often-neglected side of art history.
Thyssen-Bornemisza's 'Maestras' Exhibit. EFE/Rodrigo Jimenez.
These artists have been overshadowed by their male counterparts and marginalized by society. The exhibit showcases a remarkable lineup of artists, including Artemisia Gentileschi, Angelica Kauffmann, Clara Peeters, Rosa Bonheur, Mary Cassatt, Berthe Morisot, María Blanchard, Natalia Goncharova, Sonia Delaunay, and Maruja Mallo, among others, some of whom have remained unfamiliar to the general public until now.
Consisting of nearly 100 works encompassing paintings, sculptures, lithographs, drawings, and textiles, "Maestras" provides a feminist perspective on history, spanning from the late 16th to the early 20th century. The exhibition delves into critical themes on the feminist agenda, touching on sisterhood, womanhood, motherhood, the struggles women faced within a patriarchal system, societal and cultural commentaries, and the journey toward female liberation.
The exhibition is divided into eight key periods, each as significant as the next:
"SISTERHOOD I: THE CAUSA DELLE DONNE" - Exploring 17th-century Italian female authors, the first debates on women, patriarchal discourse, and the objectification and eroticization of the female form.
"BOTANISTS, WELL-VERSED IN WONDERS" - An introduction to the age of rationalism, colonialism, and scientific exploration, featuring pioneering women in still-life painting and botanical illustration.
"ENLIGHTENED WOMEN AND ACADEMICIANS" - The period of awakening and the start of feminist history, the rise of female portrait artists, and a more accurate representation of women's identities.
"ORIENTALISM / GENRE PAINTING" - A look at women artists during the age of travel and colonialism, challenging the male sexualization of non-Western cultures.
"WORKERS, CARERS" - An exploration of women at work in the 1800s and the fight for their rightful place in the art world.
"NEW PORTRAYALS OF MOTHERHOOD" - Demystifying motherhood, with fresh iconographies depicting both the tenderness and hardships of raising a family.
"SISTERHOOD II: RAPPORT" - Celebrating sisterhood, friendship, freedom, and confidence among women.
"EMANCIPATED WOMEN" - Shifting to the 20th century, highlighting the suffragette movement and the dawn of women's emancipation.
Thyssen-Bornemisza's 'Maestras' Exhibit. EFE/Rodrigo Jimenez.
This remarkable exhibition is best described as a feminist endeavor that unapologetically challenges the biases perpetuated by patriarchy. As Rocío de la Villa, the exhibition's curator and an esteemed art historian and critic, explains, "Maestras" serves as a platform to finally bring female artists out from the shadows and into the spotlight they undeniably deserve. It ignites a crucial dialogue about the art canon. "Maestras" will be open to the public until February 4, 2024, at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, offering all visitors an opportunity to witness the profound impact of these women masters on the art world.
