Home / Arts and Entertainment / Girlhood Art Rewrites US Art History
Girlhood Art Rewrites US Art History
9 Sep
Summary
- Exhibition highlights early American 'schoolgirl' art.
- Works by young women anticipated landscape painting.
- Art challenges notions of femininity and artistic hierarchy.
An exhibition at the American Folk Art Museum is recalibrating the history of art in the United States by highlighting "schoolgirl art." These works by young women from colonial times anticipated landscape painting movements.
The exhibition showcases nearly 100 objects, including samplers and needlework pictures, produced by girls and young women. It challenges the notion that these were merely exercises in femininity, revealing their sophisticated handling of space and place.
Co-curator Emelie Gevalt emphasizes the importance of including young women of color, whose stories were often untold. The show aims to eliminate hierarchical distinctions between fine art and decorative arts.
Works by artists like Hannah Otis and the anonymous creator of the "Fishing Lady" Scene demonstrate early artistic expression. These pieces offer insights into colonial culture and the burgeoning sense of American nationhood.
Notable is the prevalence of signed works, which offer rare glimpses into the identities of these young women. The exhibition also draws attention to the significant contributions of women of color in this artistic tradition.
