Character in Gender-Based Artworks in the 19th Century

One of the celebrated painters in the 19th century, Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, has played a big role in the development of art. However, it was accompanied by criticism based on the character embedded in their works. For instance, the severity of monsieur Ingres provoked questions in terms of perseverance and courage of a woman in art. According to this, women have been usually drawing fruits, flowers, still life genre scenes, and portraits. Most of the artworks produced in the 19th century reflected limitations of the artistic training of women including other social areas. This essay asserts that women in the 19th century produced artworks that were different in character from those of men. When compared to men, women in search for professional job in the fine arts were limited to artistic education. The art history of the 19th century dwelt on the representation of women. In such kind of representations, there are numerous issues including the perception of sexuality and eroticism, creation of the cherished world of family and private life, its perception of the working class and work and consequently, as well as particular appearance of women of that time in the portraiture form. Generally, women, during this time, used paintings to offer indispensable ideas concerning the life of women and the art. The art applied in communication has been significant in the society and more specifically to women. It has been realized in the sharing of ideas, comparing experiences, giving out opinions, advice or developing fictions. The written word has been a means of description of character and other traits in the society. The paths taken by women and men have historically been very different. However, female writers experienced a lot of difficulties all through the 18th century up to the start of 19th century. In their artworks, men defined the position of a woman through the role they played from a man’s perspective. Later, women wanted to paint a different picture where they did not want to be treated only as wives, sisters, mothers, or daughters. Women started to present a different character in their own rights. Men’s predisposition defined a woman as virtuous, gentle, submissive, and pure; and it was not expected to draw any attention to them. During the 19th century, women transgressed this ideal which would initially cause them to face harsh treatment. Earlier, women were criticized for drawing attention to them, and regarded as prostitutes selling their wares within the theatre environs. With such societal warnings and threats, women had not found their freedom in artwork until the 1800s. Ideally, men dictated the way women ought to behave and their character was very much demeaning to the female gender. Women dealt with it because they had, apparently, assumed that position in the society. Male writers have never taken the female gender seriously and presented then as unschooled beings with no legal standing and social status. It is something that the women of this time disapproved and demonstrated a completely different image and traits. Not many women displayed images different from what men showed in their artworks. Actually, only the most fortunate women could occasionally get an intellectual education along with tutorship in the requirements need for the responsibility as a wife, mother and hostess. Men artworks expected a respectable lady to get social graces, be in a position of joining in conversations that are polite, dance, have an artistic training and a musical modicum. The 19th century is basically a time when women started to fight the male-opinioned stereotypes. Men regarded it as a shame for a woman to use a lot of jargon. It was assumed that women did not know anything. All that was left to them was sewing and preparing puddings. Women began to deal with these negative images as impounded on them in artworks created by men. Since they lacked formal education, their character was devalued. All the same, women desired erudition and knowledge and in their artworks, they proclaimed themselves as self-educated. They learnt languages by themselves using dictionaries. Women faced a lot of difficulties, but they started to publish their works that became successful and were considered rivals because they had different content and empowering message to women compared to works written by men. Many women, such as Jane Austen, in 1817, made reference to the male domination in works that had been published as taking advantage to talk about their story. Education was considered to be for men for many years, and the pen ever present in their fingers. Women started to reveal a completely different character and redefined the woman in the society. Men attacked women in their artworks by ignoring the credibility of their ideas. They took such attacks personally. Sound argument failed in men’s artworks, and they resorted to abusive declamation and occasionally, silenced women in areas they were not able to convince. It was very easy for men to belittle all the endeavours intelligent women made and who could not hope to live according to modern womanly ideals. Women in their artworks sought to change all these perceptions and dealt with the criticism of character being feminine, lack of education, and mental state. The consciousness of operating within an animated ground of interaction whereby the cause of a solitary act is not wholly controllable since in a universal, inter-reliant actuality, each step affects the entire process helped women in their artworks. Therefore, they sought to create a good image of the woman in the society though challenging to have an excellent performance in their practical world. These art activities were included as part of development programs, since their process and progress were obligated to deal with the inadequacies that had befell the women. Men could not stand women who made rubbish claims in male-dominated artworks. Such women were regarded as having fine lady’s disease commonly known as the “vapours.” Women were characterized as seeds of bad taste, nonsense, and ridiculous fancies initially sown inside of them. Those who led the struggle of changing the ideals expressed by men in their artworks were afflicted with depressing problem of maggots in their brains, seemingly, from the entire character definition in their writings. Men focused on the sexual behaviours of women and drew their character definition on such grounds. They went on to belittle the works of women that went against what was considered the norm in the society. An unmarried mother would not be treated well in the community, and this became an important aspect for men. Women, however, continued to show their rights through writing, and reflected much stronger character than was the case in previous years. By this time, men regarded such women as fallen, because they did not uphold what was socially acceptable during that time. The focus of male writers was primary made on looking down upon their female counterparts: something that faced a lot of opposition in the nineteenth century. It took the efforts of women as they published their works for people to get wind of the perspective of life for women. All the same, it did not go without criticism. Women were willing to expressed real life situations in their works. One of such authors, Frances Burney, wrote the “The Wanderer or Female Difficulties.” She along with other female writers in this age included such issues as problems of marriage in their plots and referred to the challenges they faced in their relations to men in the society. It was a daunting task for women to pre-empt men’s criticism in their artworks but they never gave up. Women included some kind of apologia in their artworks more often as a note or a preface to the audience. Some of them would state that their works were meant for ladies, and they did not consider that any of their artworks would require the notice of men. There were insecurities as women dealt with the male-dominated characters in works. They would first state that the writing was a woman’s work, and for the candid and good-natured reader, it would act as a good apology for the various inaccuracies that could be realized in different styles and other mistakes of the composition. Women seemed to attack males’ ego by reminding them that they were once young writers. In their artworks, women avoided insignificant personal criticism by making a choice of writing anonymously, or under a pseudonym, specifically if the work content was, in some way, radical. The women were occasionally responsible for the accomplishment of domestic roles in their status as sister, wife, daughter, or mother. It was an extra factor that could interfere with their ability to produce artworks due to the absence of time. Art helped women address the issues that were affecting them. It was during this time that they chose to express their discontent and dissatisfaction with the way the society treated them. They resorted to producing artworks that are different in character from those of men. It was the only way to lift up their spirits and dignity in the society. Women demonstrated various skills and their art development was created to look into the needs of female artists, and to participate in their activities. It was noted that the creativeness of female artists made them produce outstanding works that gained respect in their community. They also endorsed efforts to put into practice what they had gained. Due to this factor, it was noted that female artists had the capability to adapt to a few changes in the leadership development programs, if given the opportunity. The link between art and society has for a long time been created to put forward art activities that are carried out in societal development programs. In becoming good artists, women provided people with perspectives on their social status and better approval of their world, which was relevant to what men did. For example, painters, architects, and sculptors among others stirred up the idea of verification and confrontation. Women wanted to become a part of it. These female artists verified and with the integration of the artist-identity in their performance, ended up with a wide range of dominant potential. The female artists’ self-identity achieved a significant grip then and in the following years. Additionally, the works produced by female artists became a significant outcome of their traits. However, leadership and societal development programs addressed the idea of self-awareness, effectiveness, self-rule and monitoring, which were tools already in action with these women artists. Women were taught in terms of personal identity in order to produce results regarding their character. Their developmental activities succeeded as they connected with their individual artworks, and tailored different skills and characters. The authority and character of the female writers were reflected in their personal experiences. However, it is these experiences that melded the female artists into the performance of excellent work. Their capability to produce an outstanding work, which was an objective of women empowerment, included such activities as redefining the feminine world. The female artists continued to work on the edge. The edge is, basically, the boundary between the known and the current. They worked with familiar problems and unknown solutions. They were anxious about getting solutions to the predicaments in their field of work. They looked for possible ways of eliminating the problems induced by men’s artworks. The innovativeness which arose from such complexities was a key element in women development programs, where they were taught about awareness, exploration, direction, and action. In the aspect of awareness, they were taught about how to be aware of their necessities, strengths, and weaknesses. They were also obligated to enquire excellent practices and information on actionable policies and direction to put practices into action. Consequently, the activities of the female artists were seen to be relevant to the concepts initiated in women facelift programs. It highlights a reason why such art activities were involved in providing new definition to the feminine nature. Men’s artworks were becoming more extensive every day. We live in a world where information is vital; and it has not been different even in the 19th century. The world of art provided the entire human race with proximity through writing. Male-dominated artworks showed good looking men, air brushed women, and ideal families among others. It was too much in women’s faces that they started to think that it is the way they are supposed to look like and act: a manner which pleased the men. The women artists carried out their practices in an interdependent affiliation with the medium that was uncontrollable. The medium could be anything like clay, stone, paint or any relevant item depending on the nature of the activity. They learnt almost everything about their medium. It was similar to a potter who is assured that clay is his/her way of survival and thereby, he/she creates a good relationship with the medium, clay. The female artists would get to know where to find the medium of their expression, how it will interact with prevailing notions, and discover its limits. If it is too critical or supple, a good relationship with it will show them the strength and the likelihoods of co-creation. In conclusion, while women writers were often dependent on the support of acquaintances, friends, and the family in order to get into the publishing world in the course of 19th century, many of successful women soared high. It is a wave that had begun in the previous century, but by 19th century, women had made significant contributions to literature in a variety of genres: translations of classics, travel writing, historical books, novels, educational and philosophical treatises, as well as editorials and literary criticism among others. Women chose not to hide their education, and decided to pass it on; not merely as the basic educators of their young children, but every other person who was able to read what they had written. They started and continued producing artworks that were different in character from those of men. Despite all these difficulties of prejudice, family commitments, and personal criticism, without business experience, women went against the norm, and did a lot in the literary heritage. It is this different approach and unveiling of a new character in their artworks that led to full independence in the artworks world. The essay was written by Lola Nickson, more her articles you can find at https://papers-land.com/