Book Review: The Story of Art Without Men
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This review critically evaluates Katy Hessel’s The Story of Art Without Men (2022), a popular and revisionist account of art history that foregrounds the contributions of women artists across five centuries. While the book serves as an accessible corrective to the male-dominated canon exemplified by E.H. Gombrich’s The Story of Art, the review questions whether Hessel’s approach sufficiently dismantles traditional historiographic structures or simply supplements them. Engaging with foundational feminist texts by Linda Nochlin, Griselda Pollock, and Rozsika Parker, the review considers the book’s limitations regarding Eurocentrism, intersectionality, and institutional critique. Ultimately, it argues that Hessel’s work marks a valuable but partial intervention one that expands visibility for women artists without fully interrogating the deeper ideological frameworks that define artistic value. Positioned within the broader project of rewriting art history, this review underscores the ongoing need for more radically inclusive and decolonial approaches to the field.
Source: Figshare
Authors: Gorjian, Mahshid, Eghbalizadeh, Raha
Language: English
Subfield: Visual Arts and Performing Arts
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Gender equality
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W6958969219
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