was a pioneer in an era when women were barely recognized as artists. While female talent was confined to households or convents, she broke through as court painter to Philip II—an unprecedented achievement. She proved that women were not just muses but masters of their craft. Her subtle portraits, rich in psychological depth, introduced a new, intimate dimension to art. Artivisme Féminin honors her as one of the first women to claim a place in the art world.
The Renaissance revived classical Greek and Roman ideals, emphasizing harmony, proportion, and perspective. Artists developed techniques like linear perspective and sfumato to create realistic compositions. This period was marked by a cultural flourishing in art, science, and philosophy. Despite the focus on humanism, women’s roles in art were limited, with few receiving formal training. Female Artists Sofonisba Anguissola: Renowned portraitist, known for The Chess Game (1555), depicting female intelligence and social interaction. Artemisia Gentileschi: Combined Renaissance techniques with Baroque elements, as seen in Susanna and the Elders (1610). Lavinia Fontana: One of the first women to work professionally outside a convent, creating works like Portrait of a Noblewoman (1580). Properzia de’ Rossi: Sculptor celebrated for intricate marble reliefs like Joseph...
Location: Mauritshuis, The Hague CO₂ Emissions: Approximately 22,000 tons over the past 10 years Focus: Protecting Girls and Young Women – The Fight Against Femicide Counterpart: Shirin Neshat – Women of Allah Series Context & Connection Johannes Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring (1665) is an enduring symbol of beauty, dignity, and quiet strength. The girl’s gaze—gentle yet resolute—captures an intimate moment of individuality, where purity and grace exist untouched. Her expression invites us to reflect on the value of the individual and the need to protect innocence and promise. Yet, in today’s world, this vision is fragile: millions of girls and young women face violence, discrimination, and femicide, their lives threatened by systemic failures to protect them. Shirin Neshat’s...
Location: National Museum, OsloCO₂ Emissions: Approximately 25,000 tons over the past 10 years Focus: Climate Change as a Global Crisis Counterpart: Huma Bhabha – Untitled (2019) Context & Connection Edvard Munch’s The Scream (1893) is an iconic expression of existential dread. The figure’s silent scream echoes across a chaotic, swirling landscape—a visual cry of anguish that captures humanity’s deepest fears. Today, this fear mirrors our response to the climate crisis, as rising temperatures, wildfires, and environmental collapse spiral out of control. Munch’s work becomes an enduring symbol of humanity’s collective anxiety in the face of an uncertain, collapsing world. Huma Bhabha’s Untitled (2019) provides a contemporary counterpoint that is equally haunting. With raw, visceral imagery, Bhabha fuses human and alien...
Location: Uffizi Gallery, FlorenceCO₂ Emissions: Approximately 36,000 tons over the past 10 years Focus: The Active Role of the Younger Generation Counterpart: Marina DeBris – Washed Ashore Context & Connection Sandro Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus (1484-1486) is an ode to beauty, creation, and rebirth. Emerging gracefully from the sea, Venus symbolizes harmony, love, and humanity’s reverence for nature. The ocean—depicted as a source of purity and renewal—has inspired art, culture, and mythology for centuries. Yet, in today’s world, the seas Botticelli celebrated are in peril. Plastic pollution, climate change, and human negligence are choking the oceans, threatening marine life and ecosystems that sustain us all. Marina DeBris’ Washed Ashore (ongoing) offers a stark and urgent counterpoint. Using ocean waste—plastic...
