Throughout the history of the world, women have contributed to the beauty around them through art – whether it was performing on stage, painting or sculpting, women have played a significant role in how we see the world; finding new ways to leave their mark, and their legacy, for us to enjoy. This is far from a definitive list of notable artists; in terms of general history, it seems very meager, but, in our quest for information about the art of our foremothers, it is a good place to start.

Frida Kahlo (1907 – 1954): One of the most passionate of the great painters, Frida Kahlo’s surrealist paintings capture succinctly the emotions that she refused to show physically. She “painted her own reality,” which was often dark and painful. She wasn’t taken seriously in America, though in Mexico she was revered for her works. It wasn’t until after her death that she became known as a masterful painter.

Mary Cassatt (1844 – 1926): Though born in America, Mary Cassatt always felt more at home in France. It was here that she lived and painted in some of the most artistic circles. In 1877, Cassatt was introduced to an artist named Degas – who introduced her to the Impressionist style of painting made popular by painters like Monet, Degas and Renoir. She was not only a brilliant painter in her own right; she also was integral in bringing Impressionism to light and fame in America. Her “Mother and Child” paintings, “La Toilette,” and “Little Girl in a Blue Armchar” are some of her best known works.

Annie Oakley (1860 – 1926): Always graceful, and with seemingly endless femininity, Annie Oakley was one of the most accurate marksmen in the history of our country. Her early days in Ohio taught her to wield a gun and hit her target with incredible precision. She began performing with her husband in vaudeville acts and quickly won the favor of her audiences with her charm. It wasn’t until she began performing with Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West show that her style of performance and her

Josephine Baker (1906 – 1975): It took travelling to Paris to make Josephine Baker a star. She had worked hard touring across America and dancing, but always found that the inherent racism of the time made advancement impossible. But, Paris was a different story. She became a sensation with her first show. She returned to the US in 1936 to perform in the Ziegfield Follies, but American audiences could not appreciate a such a sophisticated and powerful black woman, and Josephine returned to Europe soon after. She returned again in the 50s and 60s, making the fight against racism her personal mission, and, when she finally played Carnegie Hall again in 1973, she was met by a standing ovation – evidence of how much the American Society had grown.

Marie Anne de Cupis de Camargo (1710-1770): This French ballerina gave birth to the form which we know today. After her debut in 1726, she began to make subtle changes with great success. She adopted the leaping steps that male dancers made and was probably the first to introduce “first position” in which the feet are turned to 180 degrees; she also shortened her costume and danced in slippers without heels – the same that are typically associated with ballerinas to date.