Post 4- Gender roles

Throughout the course of this semester we have been discussing various topics when it comes to women artists and women in the art world but an overall theme that these topics share would be the “ideal woman.” How women are supposed to act, how they are suppose to appear within the male gaze and what women are supposed to portray such as innocence and purity. Determining their gender role is an important matter and is highly looked upon. The role of women and the need to express, change or even destroy their femininity is comes into play for both artist and women captured within the art itself. 

The photography exhibition "In her eyes" The sitters who posed for these photgraphs, did so dressed up partially exposed or completely covered. Some altered their appearance by emphasizing their femininity or by cross-dressing. Others are depicted in their day-to-day reality. "Angels and Tomboys" 

Richmond, Californina, 1942
Gelatin silver enlargement print on cardstock

"Dorothea Lange, worked in Richmond California, documenting the major socio-economic shifts that were occurring as a result of the booming shipyard industry during the 1920-40s" (Newark Musuem). During this time there was a high demand for women to enter the working field. However they were not allowed to distinguish themselves from their male counterparts and thus having to hide away their femininity. "Women were required to wear masculine clothes so as to not distract their male co-workers. The functional purpose of the woman's overalls, however, also alters her identity making her appear genderless" (Newark Museum). We see in Dorothea's photography, Richmond, California that although she blends in with the masculine crowd there are still a few minor details that would allow the spectator to see that she is still a woman; such as her hair peeking out from underneath the hat and the flower coming out of the bag. These small symbols are unique because in history they have been known to be feminine and thus the person accompanied by these symbols is in fact a woman. Dorothea does a good job depicting the gender roles of women, although women were allowed to work, they dressed like men because the working world is a man's world. 

Harold and Mildred Colton
1887, oil on canvas 

Another artists that helps us determine gender roles among women in society would be Cecilia Beaux. She painted a lot of scenes of the 19th century, a time when determining whether or not an infant in a painting was male or female was a hot topic. Like most of the male artists featured in the exhibition of Angels and Tomboys, Cecilia paints a portrait of Harold and Mildred Colton. These painting in reticular is easier to determine gender roles because of the symbols within the painting. First, the way that the children are dressed, one in a dress and another in pants. However, the most important symbols present would be the whip and the apple that the children are holding. The whip is a symbol or masculinity, it means power and dominance, whereas the apple is a symbol or purity and innocence, commonly used to describe women (Newark Museum). We also see the gaze that both children are giving the spectator, the little boy has a powerful gaze staring directly at the viewer, whereas the little girl is looking but from  the corner of her face. This subtle actions tell us how men and women were looked at in the 19th century and the "image" they were to obtain. 

Speak Lord (portrait Minnie Evans)

Nina Howell Starr worked along side with Minnie Evans, in one of her photographs of her "Evan's veiled eyes and open hand gestures, as though praying, her identity is concealed and she appears to become a spiritual and mysterious figure" (Newark Museum). This is important because of the role that women played when it came to religion. We have learned that in the middle ages women did not have a lot of freedom, however religion was always available to them. The roles of women allowed them to join the clergy as nuns. Therefore, this photograph not only shows the purpose of religion and gender roles but it also shows us the ability to hide away one's feminine aspects just like in Dorothea's photography. 

War Spirit at home.
Oil on Canvas. 

Lily Martin Spencer is very famous because she shows us how women take on the role of men. In a world were women's gender roles were important; the idea of a stay at home house wife seemed like the ideal woman. However Lily likes to make paintings where women are breaking away from traditions, they are breaking the chains of their femininity and joining alongside their male counterparts. In her painting of war spirit, she shows us how women are no longer following the norms of society and instead are taking bigger responsiblities of being both the household provider and house wife. We see the women multitaking and learning to balance both their feminine and masculine traits.  


“Angels and Tomboys is the first exhibition to examine the diverse interpretations of girls in the 19th century paintings, sculptures, prints and photographs. Leading women artist Cecilia Beaux, Lily Martin Spencer and Bessie Potter Vonnoh focus on the complexity of girlhood. While the sentimental portrayal of girls as angelic, passive and domestic was the pervasive characterization, this project also identifies and investigates compelling and transgressive female images including tomboys, working children and adolescents” (Newark museum, Angels and Tomboys).

Ann Hall is another important artist that shows us gender roles within the exhibit of Angels and Tomboys. In her painting Louisa and Eliza Macardy” (1845) We see the there is a strong connection between a mother and her child. This is important because we see that her daughter relates to her mother, that one day she will also take on the motherly role in life. This painting shows us the passive daughter, the role of motherhood and the femininity of both people present in the painting because of they way they are dressed and presented to the viewer.

Overall, through these artists we are able to get a better understanding of the roles that women play in society and how important the idea of femininity and masculinity is within the art world.

"Angles & Tomboys: Girlhood in 19th-Century American Art.”  Newark Museum. 49 Washington Street, Newark, NJ 07102. 23 Nov. 2012.

“In Her Eyes: Women Behind and in Front of the Camera.” Newark Museum. 49 Washington Street, Newark, NJ 07102. 23 Nov. 2012.