preview

Artemisia Gentileschi Research Paper

Decent Essays

Artemisia Gentileschi and Judith Leyster were pioneers as women artists in the 16th-17th century Baroque period. They both were very talented and successful in their artistic careers despite being in a time where men dominated this field. Although they have this in common, their unique talents contributed to the Baroque art period in different ways. The 16th and 17th century consisted of Baroque art, in everything from paintings, statues and architecture. The term was thought to have derived from the portugese word "barroco" which meant "irregularly shaped pearl." It was orginally used to criticise something, so anything that looked unusual or preposterous was considered Baroque. Baroque art was dynamic, emotionally intense, naturalistic …show more content…

His technique was creating shadowy and intense contrasts of light and dark called tenebrism and gradations of light and dark called Chiaroscuro. His usual subject matter was dramatic and realistic. Those who followed him were called Caravaggistis. Among those influenced by him was the painter Orazio Gentileschi and his daughter Artemisia Gentileschi, who he trained, and who became one of the first woman artists of her time to get accepted in Florence's Academy of Design. Her favorite subjects were dark, violent and often involved heroic woman. When you look at some of her work, such as the famous "Judith Slaying Holofernes", you can see some of these characteristics. In this piece you can see she used the signature tenebrism technique, completely darkening the background to highlight the focus of the painting to the action happening in the center, giving dramatic effect. The perspective invites you in and their intense facial features and violent action that is caught in the moment, also add to the drama and realism, making you feel emotionally and realistically involved in the gruesome scene of Judith beheading the assyrian general …show more content…

In still lifes, an arrangement of objects are placed and in vanitas, still lifes had specfic objects arranged that symbolized life and death. Genre paintings often depicted people in their everyday lives. Judith Leyster, another of the very few and accomplished woman painters of this time, did still life and genre paintings. Like Artemisia, she also accomplished a first as a woman artist. In 1633 she was the first woman admitted into the Luke’s Guild of Haarlem. Although she did still lifes, her most common works were genre paintings, which often potrayed people looking happy and full of life doing everyday casual things. One of her most notable, is her own Self-Portrait. In her self portrait she is shown smiling and painting a picture of a violinist who is also smiling, as he plays his instrument. This painting symbolizes how just like the violinist creates art with his instrument and bow, she herself, who is a painter, creates art with a paintbrush and pallete. Although the subject matter and style isn't as dramatic and dark as Artemisia's, it is considered Baroque because it is also naturalistic and shows people

Get Access