The exhibition presents the artistic work of women from the Middle Ages to the end of the 19th century. Exhibited artworks highlight the unique qualities of women’s work, particularly in painting, sculpture, drawing, and graphic art, as well as in the applied arts, revealing a lesser-known dimension within the history of art. Attention is given to the description of the environment in which female artists worked; social connections and influences shaping their work and the themes women explored in their art.
For the first time, visitors have a chance to see a comprehensive exhibition of female artists who were active in Central Europe, the Netherlands, and present-day Italy in the period 1300–1900. The exhibition is focused on this period because it marks a turning point in the status of women artists: they gradually gained access to art academies, and both aristocratic and urban women were actively engaging in art. Female artists were increasingly taking control of their careers, gradually establishing themselves professionally and socially. However, only a few were able to run an art studio like male artists.
The theme of the exhibition underscores a key message: while gender influences artistic expression and has historically limited women’s opportunities for recognition and education, what truly matters is talent, skill, and the determination to succeed in a still male-dominated world.
