It’s been a long time since we’ve done a Monday Muse post! (We’ll pick up on this, I promise!) and so I thought of doing a Part Deux of Women in Art. I have 4 different types of painting subjects I love. Flowers, Interiors, Landscapes, and Women. Not necessarily in that order. But flowers and women are pretty high up there…and when the two are combined, my eyes literally get hearts in them. Or any combo of the 4 = hearts in eyes + unicorn emoji.

Portrait of a Lady with a Cat and Ivy – Juan Cordero 19th century

James Longacre Wood (American painter, 1863-1938) Flower Girl 1899

Seated Girl by Hugh Ramsay, c. 1894-1906

Mason, Arnold, 1885-1963; Portrait of a Young Woman

Sir William Orpen: The Eastern Gown 1878 – 1931
image credits: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10
I identify with each one of these women in different ways. These women were painted at a time when women really didn’t have a voice or platform. It wasn’t that long ago that women were still considered property and their place was at home and in the kitchen. You either were married off or became a spinster (i.e. loser) We’ve come a long way from that. And sure, sure… there’s still more work to be done. But what our society has accomplished in less than 100 years is staggering compared to what was done for women’s rights in the preceding millenniums (i.e. pretty much ZILCH)
The women in these paintings represent a quiet and resolute strength while appearing gentle and feminine for the painter. She is both approachable and unassuming, but also a world of her own that she does not mind keeping you out of.
Ophelia. Oil on Canvas. 76 x 62 cm. English School.19th Century.

The Journey Home ~ Henry John Yeend King ~ (English: 1855-1924)
Anna Pavlova by Savely Sorine (1878 – 1953)


I just discovered Gerald Brockhurst (who painted the portrait above) and I am in LOVE. Not only do I really enjoy his style of painting, his subjects always have the best outfits! I am inspired not once, but twice! I’ll have to do a post on just his portraits from the 1930s and 1940s because the clothes are pretty exquisite!