Broad Strokes: 15 Women Who Made Art and Made History (in That Order)

by Bridget Quinn, Lisa Congdon (Illustrator)

Overview

Historically, major women artists have been excluded from the mainstream art canon. Aligned with the resurgence of feminism in pop culture, Broad Strokes offers an entertaining corrective to that omission. Art historian Bridget Quinn delves into the lives and careers of 15 brilliant female artists in text that's smart, feisty, educational, and an enjoyable read. Replete with beautiful reproductions of the artists' works and contemporary portraits of each artist by renowned illustrator Lisa Congdon, this is art history from 1600 to the present day for the modern art lover, reader, and feminist.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781452152363
Publisher:	Chronicle Books LLC
Publication date:	03/07/2017
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	350,974
Product dimensions:	7.30(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

BRIDGET QUINN is author of the award-winning Broad Strokes: 15 Women Who Made Art and Made History (in That Order), published by Chronicle Books in 2017. The book has been translated into four languages and selected for the Amelia Bloomer Book List of recommended feminist literature by the American Library Association. A graduate of New York University's Institute of Fine Arts and a regular contributor to online arts magazine Hyperallergic, Quinn is a sought-after speaker on women and art. She is an avid sports fan and Iron(wo)man triathlete, and her Narrative magazine essay "At Swim, Two Girls" was included in The Best American Sports Writing 2013. She lives in San Francisco with her family.

Lisa Congdon is a Portland, Oregon–based artist and author.

Table of Contents

Introduction 13

Chapter 1 Artemisia Gentileschi 19

Chapter 2 Judith Leyster 31

Chapter 3 Adélaïde Labille-Guiard 39

Chapter 4 Marie Denise Villers 51

Chapter 5 Rosa Bonheur 61

Chapter 6 Edmonia Lewis 73

Chapter 7 Paula Modersohn-Becker 85

Chapter 8 Vanessa Bell 97

Chapter 9 Alice Neel 105

Chapter 10 Lee Krasner 115

Chapter 11 Louise Bourgeois 125

Chapter 12 Ruth Asawa 135

Chapter 13 Ana Mendieta 145

Chapter 14 Kara Walker 153

Chapter 15 Susan O'Malley 163

Acknowledgments 174

Select Bibliography 175

Art Credits 179

Index 184

Editorial Reviews

Can you name five women artists? That question, which launched a recent social media campaign, receives a beautiful answer in art historian Quinn and illustrator/writer Congdon’s accessible and intimate tour of 15 female artists from the 17th century to the present.” —Library Journal

“As its title suggests, Broad Strokes isn’t stuffy. There’s plenty of scholarship here about women artists over the centuries, but Quinn combines her research with a lively, breezy tone that turns her subjects into more than feminist symbols. They’re masters in their own right, bold and brilliant despite the limits they faced.” —Christian Science Monitor

“A terrific essay collection with quick and pithy profiles of famous and not-famous women artists—Alice Neel, Louise Bourgeois, Lee Krasner, Kara Walker, etc. Spunky, attitudinal, SMART writing, excellent color reproductions.” —Susan Stamberg, NPR

Named a Top 10 Spring 2017 Book in Memoirs/Biographies by Publishers Weekly

Named one of the 23 best art history books of all time by Book Authority

“Your Art History 101 syllabus just got a lot more fun.” —O, the Oprah Magazine

“Inspiring, charming, and eye-opening.” —The Millions

“In her entertaining and accessible debut, Quinn mixes biography, art history, and women’s studies to shed light on 15 women artists.… The color reproductions add to this book’s appeal, giving readers a chance to appreciate the artists’ work as well as Quinn’s upbeat writing.” —Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

11/01/2017
Adults and teens alike will appreciate this accessible title that highlights 15 European and U.S. female artists, from 1600 to the present, who haven't received the recognition of their male counterparts. Each chapter opens with a lovely portrait of the artist by Congdon and includes well-rendered reproductions of the subject's noted works. Many of these women died young yet accomplished a great deal. Only one living artist is featured—Kara Walker—but more than half worked during the 20th century. Reading this chatty book feels like taking a trip to a museum with a knowledgeable friend, and the lively anecdotes help the history unfold easily. VERDICT This beautiful volume will inspire artists and delight anyone interested in biographies or art.—Karlan Sick, formerly at New York Public Library

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