The Crucial Role of Gender and Sexuality in The Art History

The Influence of Society on Art and Architecture

Over the years, society's views have shaped what’s accepted in art, especially when it comes to female and queer artists. Even though we're seeing more works by these artists pop up, they've had a hard time getting the recognition they deserve. This struggle shows just how much gender and sexuality have been pushed aside in art history. Here, I'm gonna dive into some ideas from Christine Battersby, Aaron Betsky, Griselda Pollock, and Rozsika Parker to see how women got stuck with certain types of art, how their work got lost or miscredited, and how queer artists had to hide their true selves.

The Struggles of Female Artists

You can't deny that throughout time, women have had it rough due to all this ingrained misogyny—art history is no exception. Battersby’s book ‘Gender and Genius’ points out that we still link great artists with men. She mentions that women have to twist old anti-female myths just to create stuff like needlework. Women were often shut out from the male-dominated art scene, so they had to be really crafty about getting their foot in the door. Patricia Mainardi talks about how women turned to needlework as a creative outlet. It was universal among women across different races and classes.

Needlework wasn't just about showing off skills; it was a way for women to climb social ladders within their communities. Despite being a big part of women's art, people often dismiss it as simple craft rather than real art. In contrast, men's detailed work rarely gets overlooked.

The Concealment of Female Artists

Lately, women are starting to get more attention in the art world. But Betsky points out we're still living in a sexist world where women find a spot but usually within boundaries set by men. Although acceptance is growing, sexism’s shadow remains when it comes to unsigned or wrongly attributed artwork. Pollock and Parker show us how even with established forms like needlework, prejudices skewed interpretations.

Take Judith Leyster for example—her paintings were credited to her husband for ages because his work seemed more valuable at the time! The patriarchy twisted things so much that female artists' works often got overshadowed or even intentionally misattributed.

The Hidden Expression in Queer Art

Queer artists faced suppression too—their expressions hidden behind layers of meaning. Before 1861, people could get executed for same-sex relations! So you can imagine artists having to mask any gay themes deeply within their work. Betsky talks about how early queer spaces felt old yet anonymous—think Cecil Beaton’s work with its abstract illusions aimed at particular audiences while avoiding punishment.

Queer architecture also had hidden meanings—a building might look ordinary but carried deeper sensual purposes known only by those aware enough to see them (like Julia Morgan’s water-filled designs). Unfortunately back then if your art didn’t fit societal norms it went unnoticed despite its brilliance.

Conclusion: Acknowledging the Past

In wrapping up all this talk on gender & sexuality roles—it becomes clear how much influence they’ve wielded over history—not always positively either! Women's genres restricted; their identities concealed—and don’t forget masked queer expressions—have all affected contributions made possible by these marginalized groups through forced limitations placed upon them simply because society wasn’t ready or willing enough at those times past which seems pretty unfair looking back now doesn’t it?

References

• Battersby, C. (1989). Gender and Genius: Towards a Feminist Aesthetics.
• Betsky, A. (1997). Queer Space: Architecture and Same-Sex Desire.
• Mainardi, P. (1994). Quilts: The Great American Art Form.
• Parker R., & Pollock G., (1981). Old Mistresses: Women, Art and Ideology.
• Pollock G., (1988). Vision and Difference: Femininity Feminism And Histories Of Art.