“It wasn’t really until the latter half of the 20th century that women artists started being seriously recognized, but even then, they were still separated from their male contemporaries—recognized as ‘women artists’ rather than ‘artists,’” says Dr. Tammi Hanawalt. “But their work stands out in its own right.” A goal of this exhibit is to bring awareness to the excellence and importance of female artists with work in the Museum’s permanent collection. “We want to recognize women artists as artists and show that their work is valued,” Hanawalt says. “The works in this exhibit are remarkable and are significant contributions in art history. And they all happen to be done by women.” Rosa Bonheur’s artwork is the centerpiece because 2022 marks the 200th anniversary of her birth. The Museum has six Bonheur works in its collection. Rosa Bonheur (1822-1899) was one of the most famous women artists of the 19th century and one of the most esteemed animal painters in history.
Image credit: Rosa Bonheur (France, 1822–1899), King of the Forest, 1897.