Focus on Women in Art

The National Museum of San Carlos is a museum devoted to European art.  While its collection certainly cannot compare to the great museums of Europe, or even the United States, there are often some interesting special exhibits, and I have visited the museum a number of times.  My latest visit was last Wednesday to see an exhibit of paintings done by Mexican women.

The museum is housed in a neo-classical 18th century palace with a distinctive circular courtyard.

Throughout the centuries men have dominated the art world, and women painters have been largely ignored.  In Mexico young upper-class women were taught how to paint along with skills such as needlework or playing the piano... skills that a proper young lady should have.  Some women had true talent for painting.  However, art schools did not allow women, and their works were largely ignored in a male-dominated field.  It wasn't until the second half of the 19th century that women were admitted to art academies or have their works exhibited along with men.  By the 20th century women started to make a name for themselves in the art world.  This exhibit has a large collection of works by female artists from the 18th century into the 20th.  It shows that there were many women, largely unrecognized, who were producing pieces of art there were just as good as those of their male counterparts.  Here are some of their paintings...

"Woman with a Tambourine" 

by María Guadalupe de Moncada y Berrio, the Marquise of San Román

circa 1793

"Self Portrait with Family"

by Guadalupe Carpio y Barruecos

1865

The artist portrays herself at the easel painting a portrait of her husband.

"Studio of an Artist"

by Josefa Sanromán Castillo

circa 1848

In Spanish, "una artista", a female artist, with her own studio no less!

"Landscape" 

by María E. Ibarrola

1896

The work reminds me of and compares very favorably with the paintings of the great landscape painter José María Velasco.

"Portrait of Emperor Agustín Iturbide"

by Angela Icaza

1855

Iturbide reigned as Emperor of Mexico for less than a year after Mexico won its independence from Spain.  This was painted many years after his death in 1824,

"Portrait of an Alienated Woman"

by Angela Icaza

second half of the 19th century

A far superior work than her portrait of Iturbide

This work was attributed to a male artist for many years.

"Beggar Woman"

by Pilar de la Hidalgo García

circa 1870

 

"David"

by Luz Osorio

circa 1885

"A Villager in the Countryside"

by Lorenza Bermejillo

circa 1890

"Willows on the Bank of the Colima River"

by Merced Zamora

1898

"The Magdalena Mountains"

by Guadalupe Velasco

circa 1898

I was not able to find out if she was related to the famous landscape painter José María Velasco.  Her style looks similar to his.

"Lake Texcoco Seen from La Villa"

by Otilia Rodríguez

1905

"Self Portrait in a Blue Dress"

by Pilar Calvo

1930

"Boy"

by Pilar Calvo

1935

"Mexican Woman"

by Pilar Calvo

circa 1935

"Untitled"

by Rosario Cabrera

circa 1921

"Friday of Sorrows"

by María Izquierdo

1944-1945

Izquierdo is the only painter in this exhibit with whom I was familiar.  She was the first female artist from Mexico to have her work displayed in the United States.  We have reached the point in time where women artists were recognized.  However, she too was passed over because of her gender.  She lost a commission for a major series of mural paintings because Diego Rivera said that she lacked the talent to complete such a large project.

"My Nieces"

by María Izquierdo

1940

"Self Portrait"

by María Izquierdo

1940