Blog Post #8

Attending the National Museum of Women in the Arts was extremely beneficial in expanding my appreciation for the Women’s Studies class. Prior to examining the exhibits in the museum, I assumed that every painting would represent feminist ideas. However, after exploring the museum and upon reflection, I realized that the goal of the museum is to highlight women artists, their extreme talent and their influence on art.  In discussion with the volunteers at the gallery, they mentioned that although female artists’ works are displayed in other galleries, unfortunately, women artists are rarely recognized and represented in the mainstream art world. One of the volunteers referred to the Guerrila Girls project and pointed out that women are more typically displayed in museum pieces because they’re the models in paintings, photographs, sculptures, etc., and not because of the artwork they create. However, after looking at the artwork displayed at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, I became aware of the talent, creativity and imagination that these many artists possess.

            Before analyzing specific paintings I selected, I think it’s important to focus on the actual museum itself. When I walked into the building, I was amazed by the true beauty and elegance of the interior on the ground and mezzanine levels. These floors have columns, decorative wall coverings, gilded accents, chandeliers and a marble floor. The paintings on these floors fit in with the décor of these two levels; the works were portraits of the wealthy and the royals. The paintings were very realistic with rich colors and detailed with images of wealth. I also noted that the paintings on the ground level were created in the16th and 17^th centuries. As I progressed through the floors of the museum, the works became more recent. The decor of the building changed as well.  While the ground and mezzanine levels were opulent, the second and third levels were more bland; basic carpet and walls that were painted with neutral colors.  The paintings on the second and third levels became the decorations for those floors and really made the paintings the focal point.   

The second floor contained the special exhibit titled, “A World Apart: Anna Ancher and the Skagen Art Colony.” This section displayed the landscape of the Danish colony, as well as the people inhabiting the colony, and suggested the differences in gender roles. The first section mainly contained portraits of Ancher’s family members and the activities in which they participated. Since females were not encouraged as artists, she used her family as models. As I moved through the exhibit, I became aware of the different roles assumed by each gender prevailing at the time. In the paintings, women were usually shown cooking, sewing, knitting, taking care of the children and in other domestic activities, whereas men were shown hunting, fishing, farming and other “manly” pursuits.  It was apparent that Ancher favored light and color and there were a few paintings where the subject of the work was secondary to the light’s reflection.  The overall feel of the paintings other than the portraits in the first collection was light and airy.

 Lastly, the third floor contained the Museum’s permanent collection. The first area again mainly displayed portraits, many of them of the artists themselves, although other self-portraits were throughout the exhibit including a famous one of Frida Kahlo. As I continued on, I could see a trend towards modernism, with bolder patterns and colors and using various materials in the composition. This level also consisted of a room with sculptures. The sculptures seemed very contemporary, also using a variety of materials including tires, wax and burlap. 

The permanent collection painting that I focused on was titled "To Kiss the Spirits- Now This is What it is Really Like,” painted by Hollis Sigler. The central element of the painting was the golden staircase ascending presumably to heaven and the angel-like figures on or near the staircase.  At the bottom of the staircase, women in dresses were displayed, but as they progressed up the stairs, they developed wings and became angels. The women figures also started out painted in a darker pink and became a lighter and even lighter shade as the staircase progressed. The bottom of the painting also included houses, while the top depicted the sky and heaven. The darkness of the sky contrasted with the pink angels, and they really stood out to me. I was also able to see the brush strokes in the stars, which made them very vibrant and noticeable. After reading the plaque, I discovered Sigler’s family history of breast cancer. Many of her family members died of breast cancer and she later did as well. I believe Sigler’s use of pink in the frame and the figures represents the battle against breast cancer. Her use of airy angles and a staircase, however, expressed hope that the spirit would go on and that heaven was inhabited by the strong spirits of loved ones.  I believe she was trying to show that death was not as dark as people imagine, and that struggles will come your way, but it’s important to rise above these struggles and never lose hope. This piece was extremely spiritual as well as inspiring.

            The painting that I examined on the second level was titled, “A Stroll on the Beach,” and it was painted by Anna Ancher’s husband, Michael. Similar to Anna, Michael focused on the importance of light and color, as well as the beauty of the landscape in the Skagen Colony. This painting displayed the sunshine as well as beautiful blues, pinks and yellows. The painting portrayed women leisurely strolling along the beach.  When I examined the other paintings in the room, I realized that most of them depicted strong men working hard and fishing at the beach. By putting Michael’s painting in context, I could see the juxtaposition of men vs. women and gender roles at the time. 

This led me to think back to the painting that I examined on the third floor titled, “Lockheed Worker Working on the Fuselage of a P-38," by Edna Reindel. I was attuned to the acute differences between this painting and Ancher’s beach painting. The central figure in the Lockheed painting was “Rosie the Riveter.” She was represented as a powerful women working in a factory during World War II while most men were off at war.  She also appeared to be working with both men and women.  While Riveter looked strong, powerful and determined at her workplace, the women in Ancher’s beach scene were not working at all. The techniques used also seemed to have a purpose.  The Lockheed painting appeared to have shaper shapes and the central figure more in focus, whereas the beach painting was more hazy and airy.   Through the comparison, I became aware of the significance of the different paintings and the different messages communicated by each.

Overall, I enjoyed my experience at the museum. I think the main difference between the classroom and the museum is that you’re able to look at each art piece in three dimensions rather than focusing on a website, slide show screen or other one-dimensional view.  It’s easier to see the colors, the shading, and the play of the brushstrokes in person, making the painting or sculpture seem to come alive.   It was also very helpful to see each piece of artwork in relation to the others so as to get a context of what the artist or museum was trying to say.  Comparisons and contrasts as well as discovering thematic ideas became possible.  In all, I was able to grasp a deeper understanding of each work of art.