From the late Renaissance through the late nineteenth century, women were barred from enrollment because it would have been flouting societal norms to allow women into figure drawing ie, sketching nude male models. Years later, I stumbled on art historian Linda Nochlin’s groundbreaking essay “Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?” The piece covers a lot of ground in the Western art world, but one thing stood out to me: men blocking women from studying at art academies. I figured it must be that (before reliable birth control) women had been too busy caring for children to have time to paint or sculpt.* Why was that? I reasoned that it wouldn’t be for lack of talent because in my school experience, the most talented kids in art class were just as likely to be boys or girls. It wasn’t until I was admiring a Mary Cassatt pastel that I was struck by the fact that virtually all of the artists were men. I lingered among the Degas, Pissarro, Monet and Renoir paintings until last call for the gift shop. I was particularly drawn to the Impressionist works. Women can do anything!įlash forward to a middle school trip to an art museum. Helen grew up, attended college and became a disability advocate and social policy progressive. As a youngster she had a teacher, Anne Sullivan (herself visually impaired) who helped her communicate using a tactile sort of sign language.

In elementary school, I attended a performance based on the life of young Helen Keller who had lost her sight and hearing in infancy from an infection. School trips to museums, historic sites and plays. Ah, a blessed break from classroom drudgery. Synopsis: Documentary on women in film, features interviews with women directors and actors. (Streaming on Netflix.)įield Trip. Discussing the merits of Harvey Weinstein spending the rest of his life in prison.

Documentary this changes everything