The Mirror and the Palette: Rebellion, Revolution, and Resilience: Five Hundred Years of Women's Self Portraits

"Right up to our present day, art history has been mostly written by white men admiring or analysing the work of other white men. In parallel, women have continued to produce art – with the odds so often stacked against them, be they social, religious or economic. The Mirror and the Palette relates the stories of women artists who show us the many ways that art is made and looked at. Through the lens of the self-portrait and over the span of five centuries, Jennifer Higgie weaves art history and biography into a compelling narrative to celebrate women whose creative expression bears witness to the courage and resilience with which they lived their lives. “Despite the immense hurdles that have been placed in her way, she sits at her easel, picks up a mirror and paints a self-portrait because, as a subject, she is always available.” Other best art books 2021 that I’ve added to my reference library include Hilma Af Klint: Occult Painter and Abstract Pioneer , available in English for the first time since its original publication by Åke Fant in 1989; Theaster Gates: A Clay Sermon , by the artist who maintains that ‘beauty is a basic service’; and the catalog from Jennifer Packer’s show at the Serpentine Gallery in London, The Eye Is Not Satisfied with Seeing . Support Five Books Five Books interviews are expensive to produce. If you're enjoying this interview, please support us by donating a small amount ."