12 Overlooked Female Artists from Renaissance to Modernism

A Displate blog post highlights 12 female artists historically marginalized in art history, from the Renaissance to the 20th century. It notes that less than 15% of artists in top museums are women, citing barriers such as exclusion from art schools, life drawing classes, and professional networks. The list includes Caterina van Hemessen (1528–1588), who created the first self-portrait of an artist at an easel, now in Kunstmuseum Basel; Sofonisba Anguissola (1535–1625), court painter to Philip II of Spain and mentored by Michelangelo; Artemisia Gentileschi (1593–1653), first woman in Florence's Accademia di Arte del Disegno; Judith Leyster (1609–1660), whose works were misattributed to Frans Hals until her initials were found; Angelica Kauffman (1741–1807), a founding member of London's Royal Academy; Louise Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun (1755–1842), portraitist to Marie-Antoinette; Rosa Bonheur (1822–1899), known for The Horse Fair; Mary Cassatt (1844–1926), the only American invited to exhibit with French Impressionists; Hilma af Klint (1862–1944), who created abstract works before Kandinsky; Georgia O'Keeffe (1887–1986), pioneer of American modernism; Tamara De Lempicka (1898–1980), Art Deco portraitist; and Frida Kahlo (1907–1954), now a feminist icon. The article is published on Displate's blog, a metal poster company.