comparing WOmen's worth: the price of being a female artist & Hands of an artist: daniel french's lincoln memorial
At first sight, the two articles seem vastly different; one focuses on female artists' plight as they try to be recognized while the other centers around an accomplished male sculptor entrusted with a masterpiece. The first article illustrates the troubling predicament of female artists as their male counterparts overshadow them. However, as the author explains the enormous feat of Georgia O'Keeffe, whose painting made the most money compared to other female paintings throughout history, the tone of the article switches to awe and inspiring. After contemplating the reasons why female artists have yet to achieve their full potential, the Anna Hayward turns to asking a prominent question: what is topping female artists from being as valuable as men?
Some turn to sexism to answer these questions with justifications for the perceived inferiority of female artists such as: "only men are capable of aesthetic greatness" and "women don't paint very well". But, what then, can be said of Janet Fish or Frida Kahlo or Artemisia Gentileschi, or even Georgia O'Keeffe? Elizabeth Sackler, the founder of a Center for Feminist Art, has much to say about the preposterous claims. She refers to the archaic values of women in the domestic sphere as a source of "fundamental disrespect" for females. While female artists are as talented and have as much to say through their work as their male counterparts, they are often overlooked because of societal norms. A prominent figure in Georgia' O'Keeffe's record breaker deal, Elizabeth Goldberg, the head of American Art at Sotheby's, stated that, "It was the right time for this painting." Why now? Why didn't the vast difference between male and female artists pop up decades ago, when women were fighting for other rights?
The second article emphasizes the life and work of a sculptor, Daniel French, whose most famous piece, the Lincoln Memorial, is a major historical landmark in Washington DC. French was a self-taught American artist and this article points out the sheer magnificence of his work. The Lincoln statue is in a sitting position with the president's arms resting on the sides of a chair. He sits, relaxed, with a button standing up, caught on the lapel, and without his famous hat. French's work brings the 16th president back to life and makes him more approachable and accessible than statues of other prominent leaders. While this article is about French, it focuses on French's successful work and the work's characteristics.
The comparison between the two articles is interesting. The article about the lack of proper respect for female artists holds a single picture of O'Keeffe's painting and instead, discusses the role of females in the art world. On the other hand, the life of a skilled sculptor is overshadowed by his most famous work. The juxtaposition of the two articles asks the reader, "What is more important? The artist or the art?"
Some turn to sexism to answer these questions with justifications for the perceived inferiority of female artists such as: "only men are capable of aesthetic greatness" and "women don't paint very well". But, what then, can be said of Janet Fish or Frida Kahlo or Artemisia Gentileschi, or even Georgia O'Keeffe? Elizabeth Sackler, the founder of a Center for Feminist Art, has much to say about the preposterous claims. She refers to the archaic values of women in the domestic sphere as a source of "fundamental disrespect" for females. While female artists are as talented and have as much to say through their work as their male counterparts, they are often overlooked because of societal norms. A prominent figure in Georgia' O'Keeffe's record breaker deal, Elizabeth Goldberg, the head of American Art at Sotheby's, stated that, "It was the right time for this painting." Why now? Why didn't the vast difference between male and female artists pop up decades ago, when women were fighting for other rights?
The second article emphasizes the life and work of a sculptor, Daniel French, whose most famous piece, the Lincoln Memorial, is a major historical landmark in Washington DC. French was a self-taught American artist and this article points out the sheer magnificence of his work. The Lincoln statue is in a sitting position with the president's arms resting on the sides of a chair. He sits, relaxed, with a button standing up, caught on the lapel, and without his famous hat. French's work brings the 16th president back to life and makes him more approachable and accessible than statues of other prominent leaders. While this article is about French, it focuses on French's successful work and the work's characteristics.
The comparison between the two articles is interesting. The article about the lack of proper respect for female artists holds a single picture of O'Keeffe's painting and instead, discusses the role of females in the art world. On the other hand, the life of a skilled sculptor is overshadowed by his most famous work. The juxtaposition of the two articles asks the reader, "What is more important? The artist or the art?"
WOMEN'S WORTH: THE PRICE OF BEING A FEMALE ARTIST: http://www.artnews.com/2014/12/22/the-price-of-being-a-woman-artist/
HANDS OF AN ARTIST: DANIEL FRENCH'S LINCOLN MEMORIAL:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100630385
HANDS OF AN ARTIST: DANIEL FRENCH'S LINCOLN MEMORIAL:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100630385