Description
Q.1 Thesis Essay Assignment #2: Women Artists Then and Now
Directions:
Read Linda Nochlin's article "Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?" in a careful and thorough manner.
As you read Nochlin's Essay, consider these questions:
- What are some specific structural barriers that prohibited women from becoming artists before the contemporary era?
- What are some reasons that Nochlin gives that explain why a few women were able to circumvent the patriarchy to become professional artists?
- What are some notions and ideas that have priviledged men as artists?
Write a 2-3 page (500-750 words) paper that considers the three questions listed above. Take care to include a thesis statement, or argument, in the introduction. Your thesis does not have to be limited to a single sentence, and should include some of the thoughts you have pertaining to the prompt questions. Use the introduction to state the thesis that you will defend in the body paragraphs.
In the body paragraphs, include quotations from Nochlin's article that support your arguments. Include the citation like this: (Nochlin, page #).
In the conclusion, summarize your argument, and remind the reader of the points you made to support your thesis.
Q.2 Discussion Thread: Who Would You Invite To Your Dinner Party?
Directions:
Judy Chicago created an installation called The Dinner Party to show that narratives of history often exclude female identified figures.
She critiques the notion of the "Last Supper", dominated by men, and imagines a dinner party attended by exclusively female guests.
First, read and watch the texts and videos cover Judy Chicago's The Dinner Party:
- Judy Chicago, The Dinner Party (Links to an external site.)
- Judy Chicago, Place Settings for The Dinner Party
- Artemisia Gentileschi and Judy Chicago (The Brooklyn Musuem)
Then, please answer the following question:
If you were having a dinner party a la Judy Chicago, which five historic female figures would you invite, and why? Include a photo, artistic representation, or work of art by the five women you choose. Your figures can be from history, contemporary life, entertainment, politics, sports, art, anything.
Q.3 Comparison Essay, Judith Slaying Holofernes: Artemisia Gentileschi vs. Caravaggio
Directions:
First, watch and read the following videos and texts about Baroque Art, and the painters Artemisia Gentileschi, and Caravaggio:
- Introduction to Baroqe Art
- How To Recognize Baroque Art
- Caravaggio and His Followers
- Artemisia Gentileschi
- Caravaggio, The Calling of Saint Matthew
- Artemisia Gentileschi, Judith Slaying Holofernes
Then, use the comparison images of Caravaggio's and Artemisia Gentileschi's Judith Slaying Holofernes to write a 250 word compare and contrast essay that considers the follwing prompt:
Scholar's have sometimes positioned the work of Artemisa Genteleschi as exhibiting latent feminist content that empowers women and reflects the experience Artemisia Gentileschi had as one of the only female paitners of her generation.
When you compare these two paintings, is there anything about Artemisia's painting that you beleive might demonstrate the empowerment of Judith and her maidservant, when compared to Caravaggio's work? Discuss whether you feel the interpretation of Artemisia Gentileschi's Judith vs. Holofernes as a document of female empowerment is convincing, or not.
Q.4 Velasquez, Las Meninas: Short Answer Questions
Directions:
First, watch the video covering The Spanish Baroque painter Velasquez's Las Meninas:
Then, please answer the followign questions about Velasquez's most well known work:
- How does Velasquez play with the notion of perception in Las Meninas?
- Who is doing the looking in this scene? How does Velasquez include the viewer in the scene in an entirely novel way compared to othr artists we have studied in this course?
Q.5 The Protestant Reformation: Short Answer Questions
Directions:
First, read and watch the course videos and texts that cover the Protestant Reformation:
- Introduction to the Protestant Reformation
- The Protestant Reformation, Part I (Links to an external site.)
- The Protestant Reformation, The Counter-Reformation (Links to an external site.)
Then, please use complete sentences to answer the following questions:
- Why did the Protestants want to break away from the Catholic church, even though they too identified as Christians?
- What were some of the consequences of the Protestant Reformation, politically and geographically?
- How did the Catholic Church respond to the Protest Reformation in the way it created and presented art and visual culture?

Explanation & Answer

Attached.
Running head: THESIS ESSAY ASSIGNMENT
Thesis Essay Assignment: Women Artists then and Now
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Institution
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THESIS ESSAY ASSIGNMENT
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Question 1: Thesis Essay Assignment #2: Women Artists Then and Now
The inferior perception of the society towards women resulted in few women in
professional careers. For instance, in the art field, structural materials were unveiled, preventing
young female artists from studying. Hence, the discrimination of women in the ancient era led to
few women becoming great artists.
Structural Barriers that Prohibited Women from Art
First, there was the unavailability of nude models to female art learners. In ancient times,
nude models were essential for art classes; thus, every young artist must use them as art tools. As
such, art trainees did not draw items that had clothes on. This oppression was supported by
advocates of ancient painting who said, “…There could be no great painting with clothed figures
(Nochlin, pg. 24).” Therefore, as male students accessed them quickly, their female counterparts
were denied the privilege. Such discrimination hence limited female artists to emerge.
The second barrier was the complete unavailability of role model artists of nude models.
On occasion, young female students didn’t realize the purpose hence withdrew from the course.
Ultimately, by 1893, there was no female admission of art students at the Royal Academy in
London. And in case there was, their models were partially draped, offering no help. This
decision wholly barred future female drawing artists.
Nochlin’s Reasons for few in professional Artists
Although traditional society failed to raise more female artists than men, several others
emerged from the women artists of the time, including Michelangelo, Rembrandt, and Picasso.
Nochlin argues that various factors facilitated their effort to become professional artists. The first
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reason was that these women were daughters of prominent and helped invade the art field to
become professional artists. For instance, Sabina von Steinbach, who led the South Portal art
groups and animal painter, was Tintoretto's daughter (Nochlin, pg. 30). As a result, she got
inspired by her father, who also guided her to achieve the dream.
Nochlin also suggests that women who became professional artists in the 19th and 20th
centuries had a close individual connection with dominant male artistic celebrities. For example,
in the 19th century, Morisot Berthe, a female artist, was linked with Manet for her unique
painting capabilities (Nochlin, pg. 26). Later, this female artist married Manet’s brother. Another
artist who benefited from a close connection with the famous male artists was Mary Cassatt,
whose good deal of her art skills were contributed by her close ally Degas. Later, the woman
became a renowned artist courtesy of Degas.
What are some notions and ideas that have privileged men as artists?
The first notion that privileged men artists was the masculinity notion of ancient times
(Nochlin, pg. 12). Most societies thus believed that men were capable of everything, including
the art sector. Through the assumption that men, women did the best things, on the other hand,
were rendered duties such as family caregivers, homemakers, and nurses. Superior training such
as engineering, construction, and mathematics was perceived to belong to men and their sons'
generation. As a result, more male artists emerged than women. In such a patriarchal society,
masculinity was used to measure male and female prowess, rendering women inferior.
Another notion that privileged the men artists were that men could do all things be they
easy or hard alone. In most circumstances, men artists came from scratch because they believe
that they are strong, and hence they need no help. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, men
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were motivated to join multiple fields, including the art field. On the other hand, women artists
were not favored because they did not believe in themselves but for others' support.
Conclusion
Women are a special group of people in society. As a result, the community should
support them to achieve their goals for their future. The assumption that women are weak and
inferior, as witnessed in ancient times, can kill many dreams. Thus, fields like art should
facilitate materials and resources to produce more artists.
Reference
Nochlin, L. (1971). Why have there been no great women artists? The Feminism and Visual
Culture Reader, 229-233.
Question 2: Discussion Thread: Who Would You Invite To Your Dinner Party?
Artemisia Gentileschi was a Baroque painter from Italy. Her close association with Caravaggio
enabled her to acquire the art skills and innovative compositions on Biblical heroines (Grant et
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al. 2018). Moreover, her unique skills in highlighting the Bible female characters have given her
the badge of the best female artist on Bible matters. I would invite her to the dinner party to
elaborate the art paintings concerning the Bible women characters. I prefer Artemisia for her role
in communicating the bible message through simple painting. The coverage of Bible heroines
thus beats the assumptions that women are inferior and cannot achieve anything. Through her
creativity, I feel that Christians would have basic knowledge of the Bible concepts that they
would not have at any other ordinary time.
Marie Curie was born in Warsaw but studied and mastered her physics at a university in Paris,
France. My preference to invite her to a dinner party is because of her contributions to the
innovations of human problems. Her main contribution is the innovation of the modern science
of radioactivity. In her studies, Marie Curie even invented the “word.” Nonetheles...
