Why are there so few female artists in the National Gallery?

[@kaylajohnson3146]

I think this is an amazing first step towards more representation of female artists from the gallery’s national collection. However, after looking through the scores of 30 minute videos about a single male artist compared to this one 5 minute video about 23 different female artists on your KZbin page, it feels like there is an imbalance. I recommend doing 30 min worth of dialogue for each individual female artist, rather than condensing their entire careers into a few sentences.

[@slightlybetterthanaveragej6777]

Sounds like an excellent opportunity for you to start a KZbin channel. Sure beats expecting others to do what you feel is right. Do the capitalist thing: you found a theoretical void, so fill it.

[@christianfrommuslim]

@@slightlybetterthanaveragej6777 It seems Kayla is wise enough to want experts to do it.

[@inkfeather1152]

@@slightlybetterthanaveragej6777 You really should change your name to Below The Average Joe, because that was a really ignorant comment.

[@slightlybetterthanaveragej6777]

@@inkfeather1152 ok hero 🙄

[@adrienne4028]

Washington DC has The National Museum of Women in the Arts. It was founded in 1981 and is the only art museum entirely dedicated to women in the world.

[@angiem7520]

The comments here show exactly why initiatives like this are needed today. It's not to change history, it's to create a balanced future. Cheers to the National Gallery for recognizing this need and taking steps to do what they can. No one expects them to change the past. But pointing out these beautiful pieces, telling their stories, talking about the women who did collect and promote art.. that's all part of it. Love this video and the sensible approach.

[@launabanauna8958]

Dante Murch Lol...this has nothing to do with equality of outcome, this is one of the cases where female artists were just blatantly overlooked by the gallery. It’s a wrong that needs to be corrected. You sound like a frightened child.

[@fattidiliberta]

please start putting Caroline Cambell in the credits of the video.... she's an amazing art scholar and divulgater . thanks

[@Epping49]

So looking forward to the Artemisia exhibition in the Spring. It was a moment of real joy when I was finally able to see her St Catherine hanging next to The Supper at Emmaus. So much so that I paid scant regard to Caravaggio’s great painting. Can anyone remember which painting of Gentileschi‘s was displayed at the Caravaggio exhibition?

[@EyeLean5280]

There were actually quite a number of celebrated, successful women artists, especially from the 18th century forward. The National Gallery has clearly failed its patrons through this glaring imbalance in their collection.

[@darrendazcox]

name one who painted an epic ceiling mural like Tiepolo?

[@amandamiergarza2243]

⁠​⁠@@darrendazcoxso, if any women haven’t painted a ceiling like Tiepolo, is that the reason why history has banished them? Unbelievable

[@emilydeveremoss]

less that 1% of your collection being painted by women is honestly appalling

[@rionka]

thank you for this. i was asking these questions all my childhood and all my life because i always felt it as a problem. you helped! hugs from Czech Republic

[@melanieohara6941]

Thank you from Wyoming-the Suffrage State. Art keeps us going. Be well, All!😷💞🌟

[@christianfrommuslim]

Wyoming deserves more recognition for leading the way in women's suffrage.

[@christianfrommuslim]

This series helps document that despite societal expectations, women can overcome and do great things. Lacking in MIND and RELIGION: is what authoritative Islamic documents claim. Even now we are getting such comments on our videos. But both these aspersions are easily debunked by: - the academic success of women, not only as being greater in number than men in American universities, but at their success in Kuwait has resulted in affirmative action for men - they get university admission with lower grades - the Pew Research group documents that women are more religious than men in every culture, except Islam, where they are hindered from full participation.

[@anthonylemkendorf3114]

For a powerful and definitive response,consider a rare Woman who understands the Male Creative Psyche : Camille Paglia

[@barbarajones9385]

Rather consider, in the context 9f this video, scholarly and ground-breaking books by Griselda Pollock, Lucy Lipard and other historians of women's creativity, their place in art history and in the public view.

[@mariusweber4990]

I've seen this whole topic be very much politicized, but i have faith in the National Gallery that the focus will continue to be on beautiful artwork and stories (as shown in this video, Rachel Ruysch being one of my favourite painters).

[@justrenee2640]

Stier _ I agree it should, my friends and I are actually funding a small gallery for women only which will deal will women’s lives outside of whoredom, motherhood, etc. lol when you can’t beat them, exclude right lol

[@michaelwhite8031]

Beautiful works

[@piedwagtailrameau]

Fascinating insight - thank you for bringing this topic to our attention!

[@LJ7000]

It's just an historical fact, there's not much more to be done other than put forward theories as to why this was the case. The past is the past, the social situation was different, women simply had highly involved and expected domestic roles that took precedence and impeded such things. Today people may find this "assigned roles" hard to understand, but it really may not have been so strange to people actually in it at the time, it was simply expected that men did one thing, and women did another, that there were things more suited to each sex. There are still many situations and roles like that today that even progressive people don't ever stop to question.

[@giuseppemilazzo2649]

Assigned roles are part of nature and no one can't change that, nature is eternal, no humans: only you can change is its value, how to value an individual and what an individual can give, share or contribute in this case as an artist.

[@darrendazcox]

yeah but how does a failing industry like the art world get attention any more? A hundred years after Dada these same experts are telling us 'white on white' paintings or iterations of Albers square inside a square have meaning and value - the public thinks the art world is a joke if not a scam with the century of 'anything is art'. Women being underrepresented in the art world seems to be a low hanging fruit agenda that targets their largest demographic, themselves. No one has stopped women from making epic art in the past 50 years at least - some wealthy woman could have decided to learn how to paint and get fit enough to paint an epic ceiling mural that bested or rivaled Michelangelo or Tiepolo but they didn't, I didn't say that they couldn't but that they didn't because women don't want to be filthy dirty for a year or more climbing scaffolds by themselves - other than myself I don't even know of an artist physically able to paint at the pace and quality of some one like Tiepolo - someone rich enough could have exceeded the old masters but they never do because it takes a lot of time to do something epic and women especially now with the beauty industry and social media are acutely aware of the perception of passing time - how is time perceived when you have a newborn to 4 year old to care for? How is time perceived when you spend 4 years painting a ceiling with your co-workers?

[@stevebarlow3154]

@@darrendazcox In the Victorian era middle class girls were taught watercolour painting to quite a high standard. It was one of their social skills they were expected to have, along with playing the piano and singing etc. So there should in theory be lots of Victorian watercolours by female artists somewhere.

[@CallieMasters5000]

She looks like one of the actresses on "Call the Midwife", though it might be mainly because of her accent.

[@marianymfiadi3919]

This could be the start for a meaningful discussion. What is the role of the National Gallery to this inequality? There were more women painters/sculptors/printers/creators during the period that the National Gallery is collecting, let us know if you need any help to find them!

[@jrsinsf]

As you say, you can't change history, but you can change your acquisition plans. The paintings are out there, so search them out and write the cheques!! And given the number of women who are reaching higher positions in the business world, pitch your acquisition goals to them and I'm sure they'll contribute to the cause...

[@Asaspor]

Why? Why should women be over-represented in art galleries?

[@jrsinsf]

@@Asaspor who or what are you responding to?

[@Asaspor]

@@jrsinsf You promote the idea of buying more paintings by women just because they are painted by women, and I'm asking you why.

[@jrsinsf]

@@Asaspor recall that in the collection of 2300 paintings, there are only 21 by women. To better represent women artists, it would be important to acquire more examples. Clearer now?

[@Asaspor]

@@jrsinsf And what is the ratio of male to female artists overall? 21 out of 2300 sounds pretty good.

[@infesta7]

How about balance based on artistic merit? Pushing for artworks because they were painted by women is the XXI version of the Vatican's Fig Leaf Campaign.

[@dapigudemao]

Who cares about merit when you can simply blame other for one's own failures or mediocrity? Talking about pushing women...in my country (France) women which have no historical importance are replacing major figures of French history in school history books simply because they promote modern agendas. What was it again...? Who controls the present, controls the past....?

[@debbietaylor2412]

Nice to see all the misogynists are out in force....*sigh*

[@georget5874]

'misogynists' you mean there are people out there, who question the oppression narrative, that is being put about to explain why there are virtually no female renaissance painters.

[@EGGWISHING]

@@asdf1991asdf ok boomer

[@aBRUSHforCONFUCIUS]

Just because people don't agree with doesn't make them "women haters". I see alot more hatred thrown at men. Besides, non of you are gonna push for equality in the sewers, mines, logging, ranching, farming, fishing or BUILDING cities? Are you? All I hear is men this, men that. No one is stopping anyone from making great art. But we all know it is not about the art. It is about ideology, agenda and power. Great way to ruin the museum experience. Thanks!

[@davidheatherly171]

Wonderfully said. Kudos.

[@pup4corn]

So much toxicity in this comment section. More power to the national gallery !

[@yarmo28]

This video is a very welcomed addition to our understanding of ourselves, our culture, and our art. I do wish that our society had been far more honest about the distribution of artistic talent. We need to remember the names of women artists as we need to remember the names and works of non-European and non-American artists. Thanks.

[@Smudgie]

Will the National Gallery now also go down the road of quotas over quality like every other part of our lives?

[@rogersaxon7671]

Great place. The National Gallery #art London-

[@outsidethepyramid]

Can you do a "progressive" video like this but for black people... & Chinese .. & Indian.. & Mexicans & Australians & People who are in wheelchairs. & countless other groups who are not represented. I don't believe in group identity. I believe in the individual. The galleries were fine as they were.

[@Smackrat]

Dropped.

[@BlackKettleRanch]

I don't know a museum where this isn't an issue. We need to rock it and change it. Isn't it interesting that women are more accepted as authors?

[@BlackKettleRanch]

@@asdf1991asdf that's not the case.

[@grf73tube]

Well, I always wondered why women were grossly underrepresented when it comes to war casualties throughout history. Could it be that only men were sent to die in battles? I suspect we have no problem with women discrimination in that role because I´ve never heard anyone addressing this "problem" with history.

[@aBRUSHforCONFUCIUS]

Blah, blah, blah! Women in the trenches. Yeah right. Where are all the women fighting for equal representation as loggers, fishermen, ranchers; miners; farmers; oil workers or how about DYING at work? Certain people act like men have done nothing but repress women. Um, who built ALL the cities, the interstates, the ports; railways; the ships; the sewers; etc.? Men have built the cities, which women get to use. Drive around anywhere and ask yourself, "who built this?" But I digress from this video, nothing is stopping anyone from making great art. Unless, certain people think art should not be about merit. So when I start to see women applying emasse at construction sites or for positions in sewers. Not demanding seats on the boards of companies, they neither created nor built, then I will take them seriously. Is that toxic enough? Way to ruin the museum experience.

[@darrendazcox]

@@aBRUSHforCONFUCIUS well said sir!

[@joehop3191]

Don’t go there. STOP.

[@elizabethhurtado2829]

❤

[@namesurname7172]

Is the National Gallery going full SJW?

[@giuseppemilazzo2649]

I do damn hope not!!!!

[@catherineward7278]

How is this SJW? All they are doing is making a video on artists that are female in the National Gallery. 21/2300 paintings when over 50% of the world's population are women doesn't sound awfully a lot to me. Considering the talent of the women who painted those paintings as well e.g. Rosa Bonheur as mentioned in the video. Have you ever stopped to think how many female artists you have heard of? Yet how many nude paintings there are of women in most major public galleries?

[@h31763]

How predictable and tiresome.

[@arandorapress7561]

Maybe start by using the word “sex” and dumping gender. Then start looking for us. Painful.

[@theodoranorton4779]

It might seem important from a political standpoint to consider the declared gender of an artist, but I consider that the quality of an artwork is the most important factor in its perceived value. Whether it was created by a man, a woman, or even a genderless extraterrestrial, it is either beautiful and intellectually engaging, or it is not. As more women free themselves from traditional activities to concentrate on fine art, the balance of artists' gender in your collection may shift, but does it really matter? Also, how many of your works are "school of" "workshop of" or "anonymous?" How many Artemisias might there actually be represented?

[@keybawd4023]

This is woke rubbish. Why are there so few female femal artists, why are there so few classical composers? Because so few women compose, so few paint. If they painted masterpieces or wrote sublime symphonies, they would be represented. Stop the box-ticking. If the painting is great it will get shown;.Tell me what masterpieces by female artisits are languishing in the basements of important galleries, OK? Mary Cassat gets shown because her work is wonderful.- and it doesn't matter what gender painted it. How sad that wokeness is taking over the National Gallery.

[@anthonylemkendorf3114]

Yes , you’re obviously correct. This exhaustive ranting is obviously antithetical to the creative process . Galleries and museums have become female enclaves for mediocre editorialism ..

[@purpigment]

This is such an important question and topic which applies to all the Arts including Visual Arts. However, the fact that you are asking the question is significant as long as the Gallery consciously and constantly seeks to remedy and redress the exclusion of women artists from the historically male-dominated canon. The women artists you do showcase are magnificent. Artemisia Gentileschi is my favourite.

[@darrendazcox]

nothing more inspiring to women than glorifying a murderess with a several head rendered in perfect chiaroscuro - she had sex with him all night until he passed out then cut his head off which is ok because it's in the bible - the ultimate woman painting as that is really how women think - the spite factor is real!

[@RobinHood-hk5dk]

Just show all female artists work for six months and see who turns up.

[@frankdavis4836]

Tosh and nonsense. Womens Minister Angela Leadsom gave 300,000 pounds to the National Gallery to show only women works of art and barely anyone turned up to see the exhibition - including other women.

[@Semper_Iratus]

That question could be asked about any number of why not this and that.

[@jimjr4432]

The National Gallery should remove all works of art, whose painters are over represented. Diversity is the goal, the ideal and probably the only moral position. Ergo, get rid of all the old Italian, French, English and other non- female, non-black, non-homosexual, non-latino (but not males, obviously). You must deal with the lack of diversity at the National Gallery. Remove those male painted pictures now, sell them so that the gallery can exhibit more female artists.

[@jimjr4432]

@Claudius Well Mr Porter below has a succinct comment which, when one asks the question, why should the National Gallery perpetuate racism, sexism and a myriad of other isms when we others comply with quotas? Should the 'National' gallery get a pass, when millions of visitors view these un-diverse pieces of art? The NG made this video, they should stand by their verbiage..

[@jimjr4432]

viergenoire Sorry, I’ve got to stop trying sarcasm.

[@andyrobinson2653]

Men are just better artists. Simple as.

[@alexmurphyhughes7973]

Not exactly fuckass

[@narval-j]

Even today being a female creative isn't easy... Being in the shadows isn't really a win situation for women.

[@jacekmak87]

Focus on art for crying out loud! Stop pushing this neomarxist, "women are and always were opressed" point of view. Ps.: what's next? "Black painters in history" series? :D

[@raymondsmith9063]

Of all people, the Frugal Gourmet said it best when he visited an old colonial kitchen: "Never ask again why your great-great grandma never became an oil painter." LOL! I was a teenager when I watched it, when this PC nonsense was just taking root, and I still quote it to this day. He did open my mind to the absolute harsh utility of the past.

[@redhippopotamus9144]

I can tell if you're joking or just incredibly ignorant.

[@Niko5black]

Maybe there just wasn't many woman artists....there are loads now.

[@darrendazcox]

winner winner chicken dinner! more women than men in the arts now - you'd think they would have their own Picasso by now haha! just joking, relax

[@iragr1029]

How about buying art from the living female artists to narrow the gap? Rose Franzen for example is a brilliant modern painter

[@dapigudemao]

Your solution is discrimination? How about rewarding the great artists instead, regardless of their gender and not fighting imaginary foes?

[@catherineward7278]

@@dapigudemao How is buying a painting from a talented modern female artist discriminating against a male artist when most female artists have to struggle much more to begin with as most well-known artists are male?

[@darrendazcox]

I looked at Rose's work briefly - she is quite good at using the classical tradition - competent for the 1800s which is better than most living artist today of course but it's apprentice level- her paintings are not epic just better than most people who paint a standard figure study these days - she feels like a painting teacher who is an artist but not an artist who inspires by the finished work being awe inspiring - i admire her success and quality of stroke but she isn't "brilliant" except by comparison to people who can't paint anything but blobs or squares.

[@METALSCAVENGER78]

Stop your childish whinning National Gallery.Men were better artists, simple as that

[@lvo3617]

your ignorance is amusing. Please do your research before sharing the content of those fogy braincells of yours.

[@andyrobinson2653]

Its true women did not get enough foot in the door. Artimesia is interesting but she is a considerably less Caravaggio.

[@georget5874]

were they excluded? I've never read anything about laws in renaissance Europe that prevented women from being painters.. I'd guess human society is more complex than that, lots of women in history haven't had much incentive to work because there's men who would just give them money for looking pretty, or perhaps historically when there was no welfare state, the less of a loser your husband was the easier it would be to bring up your children, so women might have put a higher priority on finding a husband than working on their painting skills, or it could be something completely different..who knows

[@alexmurphyhughes7973]

Women weren't allowed an education

[@aBRUSHforCONFUCIUS]

I want quotas for mining, fishing, logging, farming, ranching, or every job required to build cities, interstates, ports, railways, tunnels. But of course we will not. We'll see that crud or wanting representation on the boards of companies women neither built nor started. When I see a desire to make those fields equal, then I'll take stuff like this video seriously. Besides, nothing is stopping anyone from making great art. But this not about merit. It is about ideology, agenda and power.

[@anthonylemkendorf3114]

Ouch! So true ..

[@dapigudemao]

Not at all against seeing more work from women, i think it's a good thing. However i dislike hearing women complaining about oppression then complaining again about consequences created by their own decisions. For example they complain about misogyny yet they mostly vote for the left (amongst others) which encourages misogynist cultures to invade their countries. Men dominated culture in those days, okay but those where just a handful of men, exceptional men just like these women were exceptional. Most men were working the fields and eating roots, not reading nice literature in their library while women were doing all the hard work. Get out of this victimization mentality and prove that you are just as good if not better, it's in your best interest.

[@catherineward7278]

Actually more men on average in Europe had access to education than women. Women were not allowed to go to college or be educated in the vast majority of cases. No access to education = no training. And even the ones who received artistic training endured much misogyny and abuse. Artemisia Gentileschi, a notable Baroque artist mentioned in this video was raped by another painter Agostino Tassi who was her tutor. She was tortured at her trial with thumbscrews in order to prove her testimony. Tassi was exiled from Rome but never faced a sentence. And yet you are basically blaming women for not being successful artists when they were very much written out of mainstream art history.

[@stevejames9531]

One cannot help being a bigot, when you demand your own personal hate and bias in who should be shown in Art. You may think today movements is now the saying anything not done!!!! by a white man European!!! is the most accepted goal this is inclusive not bias or bigoted by no means backwards when showing good art.

[@PauloConstantino167]

Because male artists are more numerous and better.

[@alexmurphyhughes7973]

No....

[@MissMagic]

Sex gap, not "gender" gap.

[@dougdedalus]

Sure...

[@alexmurphyhughes7973]

Its history...