How Did Feminism of the 1960s and 70s Affect Art History?

Art|Art History

The feminist movement of the 1960s and 70s had a tremendous impact on art history. It was during this time that women began to challenge the traditional norms of society, which had long excluded them from the world of art. This new wave of feminism brought with it an unprecedented level of visibility and recognition for women artists, which created a whole new landscape in the art world.

The feminist movement brought about an increased focus on female subject matter and perspectives in art. Previously, artwork featuring female figures was often limited to historical or mythical figures that were presented in a traditional manner.

With the emergence of feminism, however, female artists began to explore more contemporary themes and create works that reflected their own experiences as women. This shift allowed for a much more honest portrayal of women in artwork and opened up new avenues for expression.

The 1960s and 70s also saw a dramatic rise in the number of women entering into traditionally male-dominated fields such as painting, sculpture, photography and printmaking. Women were no longer content to be relegated to needlework or craftwork; they wanted to be taken seriously as professional artists.

As such, they began producing works that pushed boundaries and explored themes that had previously been taboo or ignored by male-dominated art institutions. This was one of the major factors behind the emergence of movements such as Pop Art, Minimalism and Conceptual Art during this period.

The feminist movement also helped to shape art education during this time by challenging existing educational models that tended to favour male students over female ones. Women’s studies departments were established at universities across the country and courses specifically geared towards empowering female students became more common place. This allowed for more comprehensive instruction in topics such as gender representation in art history, which further enabled female artists to produce works that spoke directly to their own experiences as women living in a male-dominated society.

The feminist movement has had a lasting impact on art history by creating an environment where women are able to express themselves through artwork without fear or judgement from society at large. Female artists have been able to play a much larger role in shaping our understanding of what constitutes art today than ever before due to these changes brought about by feminism during the 1960s and 70s.

Conclusion:
The feminist movement of the 1960s & 70s had an immense effect on art history by creating space for female voices & perspectives within traditionally male-dominated fields such as painting & sculpture & challenging existing educational models which favoured men over women within academia & artistic institutions alike. By introducing new subject matter & approaches into artwork along with increasing visibility & recognition for female artists, feminism has left an indelible mark on how we view & understand art today.