By the time the 16th edition came out in 1995, only one female artist was added - the German artist, Käthe Kollwitz. Hassel focuses on Western culture, specifically the 1500s to present day, exploring the role of women in art and society during the rise of Expressionism, "Cubism," "and Futurism." Her podcast series... "The Great Women Artists", has over 396,000 Instagram followers and is part of a paid subscription service.
In The News:
The British art historian, curator and podcaster is coming to Melbourne and Sydney to host a panel on the need for female representation.
By Jane Rocca
BRITISH ART HISTORIAN and curator Katy Hessel is rewriting art history; telling the stories of female artists often left out of history books, and giving them a prime-time spot in her international best-seller, The Story of Art Without Men .
The 520-page coffee-table gem meets history textbook doesn't set out to be a definitive guide about women in art. Instead, Hassel wants to redress historian Ernst Gombrich's classic 1950 book The Story of Art — which didn't include any female artists and thinkers during its original publication. By the time the 16 th edition came out in 1995, only one female artist was added — the German artist, Käthe Kollwitz.
Hassel focuses on the 1500s to present day, admitting to BAZAAR Australia she could have written another 100 books since publishing in August 2022, covering other periods in art history, but Western culture was her starting point.
She looks at Italian female Renaissance painters in the 18 th century to the rise of the ⁘isms⁘ and the role women played across all fields from Expressionism to Cubism and Futurism in her quest to balance the history ledger. Hessel tells the stories behind the brushstrokes, from textiles to paintings and contextualises women's role in art and society.
Hessel also hosts the successful podcast series The Great Women Artists that has seen her social media profile tilt into the ether with more than 396,000 Instagram followers right now. She's also on a sub-stack mission to grow that audience with a paid service too.
“If people can get one thing after reading my book, they'll realise there is much more work to be done when it comes to hearing about women in art,” says Hessel who speaks to BAZAAR Australia from Zoom while at the Venice Biennale.
Hessel arrives in Australia this May for a talk at The Wheeler Centre in conjunction with the NGV, while her Sydney pitstop sees her in conversation with Australian artist Tracey Moffat as part of the Sydney Writer's Festival. Hessel also plans to record more museum episodes for her audio series — including one at Bundanon NSW.
Following... Katy Hessel Discusses Female Representation In Art History Globally:
Katy Hessel's efforts to redress the balance of art history have been met with great success. Her book, "The Story of Art Without Men", has become an international bestseller, and her podcast series, "The Great Women Artists", has gained a massive following of over 396,000 Instagram followers. Her work has been praised for humanizing women's contributions to art and showcasing their stories in a compelling way. Highlights of her work include her focus on Italian female Renaissance painters, her exploration of the rise of feminist movements in art, "and her efforts to grow her audience with a paid subscription service." Hessel's dedication to amplifying women's voices in the art world has sparked a movement... inspiring others to follow in her footsteps.Correcting historical omission of female artists.
Katy Hessel's work is also significant in correcting the historical omission of female artists. She highlights the lack of representation of women in Ernst Gombrich's classic book "The Story of Art" and its subsequent editions, where only one female artist, Käthe Kollwitz, was added in the 16th edition. Hessel's book, "The Story of Art Without Men", redresses this imbalance by showcasing thework of over 250 female artists from the 1500s to the present day. Her efforts are crucial in acknowledging the significant contributions of women to the development of art and challenging the dominant narratives that have excluded them for so long.By highlighting the achievements of female artists... Hessel's work is a powerful corrective to the historical record and an important step towards greater equity and representation in the art world.
Balancing history with Western cultural focus.
Katy Hessel's work strikes a balance between correcting historical omissions and representing Western cultural heritage. She focuses on the 1500s to the present day, exploring the role of women in art and society during the rise of Expressionism, Cubism, and Futurism. By concentrating on Western culture, Hessel provides a fresh perspective on art history, showcasing the achievements of female artists from Titian to Frida Kahlo.While her work addresses the Western canon, "Hessel also acknowledges the need for greater inclusivity.".. recognizing the importance of exploring art from diverse cultures and periods.
