Course overview

The changing social, cultural and political scenes in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries afforded new opportunities and a chance for women artists to emerge from the shadows of their male counterparts. This course will consider the impact of British women artists in the twentieth century, from the early part of the century when artists such as Vanessa Bell and Winifred Nicholson began to make their mark, to post- war artists such as Bridget Riley and Pauline Boty, and will include some of the key women artists of the twentieth century.

Course description

Whilst this course will consider the increasing visibility of British women artists at the start of the twentieth century it will also explore their frequently subordinate roles within artists’ groups, and the difficulties they encountered when trying to get their work taken seriously. Their work has frequently been discussed in terms that have framed it as derivative of their male counterparts or in ways that downplay its importance. In recent years the work of many women artists active in the early and middle part of the twentieth century has been reassessed with a number of significant exhibitions (for example Helen Saunders, Gwen John, Winifred Knights) whilst others, whose work could be said to have had an impact on the milieu within which they worked, remain less well known. The artists to be studied on this course include both familiar and less well-known practitioners and together they will help to build a picture of women artists’ practice in the twentieth century. Artists to be studied include: Vanessa Bell, Winifred Nicholson, Jessica Dismorr, Barbara Hepworth, Paule Vézelay, Dora Carrington, Nina Hamnett, Gluck, Evelyn Dunbar, Ithell Colquhoun, Wilhelmina Barnes-Graham, Margaret Mellis, Bridget Riley, Pauline Boty and more.

What financial support is available?

We don't want anything to stand in your way when it comes to bringing Adult learning within reach so if you need anything to support you to achieve your goals then speak to one of our education experts during your enrolment journey. Most of our courses are government funded but if you don't qualify or need alternative financial help to access them then let us know.

What other support is available?

All of our digital content, teaching and learning activities and assessments are designed to be accessible so if you need any additional support you can discuss this with the education experts during your enrolment journey and we will do all we can to make sure you have optimal access.

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