The Story of Art Without Men by Katy Hessel is a book I highly recommend for all art lovers. Whether you are a seasoned museum-goer or someone new to art appreciation, this book is required reading. In fact, I believe it should be used as a sort of textbook, or at the very least a supplemental text, for any survey of art history. What I wouldn’t give to have had this book when I was a baby art historian just starting out all those many moons ago.

There are so many things I love about this book! Obviously, there’s the insightful approach to women artists and how the author cements their rightful place in art history. I also really like the thoughtful layout of the text. If you so choose, you can read the book from cover to cover and see how the contributions of women artists have impacted every aspect of the art historical canon. The writer is direct and to the point, and includes important statistics, facts, quotes and other details that enhance the text without bogging it down. This makes the story of women artists incredibly accessible, something that feels lacking in certain other texts on the same subject.

The book is also a wonderful reference publication which is why it could easily function as a textbook. Katy Hessel, the author, has broken down the text into manageable sections that clearly illustrate the passage of time and help keep the different historical periods from being too overwhelming; the same goes for art movements. No one needs an advanced degree to utilize the information found in this book and watching the history of women artists unfold is encouraging and empowering.

Filled with stunning full-color reproductions, Hessel has endeavored to include a rich variety of art makers in a kaleidoscope of mediums. Fiber arts, pottery, art in three dimensions, photography, performance – you will find it all and more in this book. Plus, Hessel has put the work in to include artists outside the western tradition, featuring multiple artists of color and from the queer community.

A detailed timeline, an extensive Notes & Bibliography section and a helpful index and glossary make this book something to celebrate. Whether you flip idly through the pages for something striking to catch your eye or if you plan to fill a notebook with all that you’ve learned, this book will help you honor all the women artists who have been ignored, erased and overlooked from art history.

You can follow author Katy Hessel on Instagram: @thegreatwomenartists

You can also listen to her podcast by following this link…

https://www.thegreatwomenartists.com/katy-hessel-podcast

To read additional reviews of this recent release, please visit the following links…

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/sep/11/the-story-of-art-without-men-by-katy-hessel-review-putting-women-back-in-the-picture