Artists

Marietta Robusti “La Tintoretta”, Rachel Ruysch, Jurien Pool , Sofonisba Anguissola, Bernardino Campi

Press release

Women Artists and their Companions

They portrayed royalty and nobility, owned workshops, schooled individual aspirants, but for the most part fell into oblivion: women artists. Northern and southern Europe of the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries was home to far more women painters, teachers and graphic artists (some highly successful) than we have been led to expect. While, for women a career in art was not altogether out of the question, it was deemed socially undesirable and would be pursued only under exceptional circumstances. However, aided by family members, teachers and other pioneers, such prescriptive roles could be breached.

A joint endeavor initiated by the Bucerius Kunst Forum Hamburg and the Kunstmuseum Basel, the exhibition showcases works by eighteen women artists, contextualising them for the first time with those of their fathers, brothers, husbands and teachers: This series of focused juxtapositions, creative and thematic parallels and divergences are presented in truly fascinating form. Against the background of societal and familial milieu, Ingenious Women brings together portraits, history paintings, still lifes, drawings and graphic arts dating from the Renaissance, Baroque and Classicist epochs.

Curated by: Bodo Brinkmann, Katrin Dyballa, Ariane Mensger