Often written from a male perspective, the dominant narratives of art history have largely ignored the writings of female artists. Yet these varied texts, ranging from diaries to newspaper articles, bear witness to the desires, efforts, struggles and successes of female creators. Drawing on their own words, the podcast “Words of Women Artists” gives voice to their version of history. The unique perspectives revealed allow us to better understand the visual arts, but above all, to renew our understanding of the dynamics of art history.

In this first season, co-produced by AWARE and the Musée d’Orsay, with the support of the FAMM museum, we will listen to the voices of activist artists from the second half of the 19th century. Through their writing, they defended their right to found women-only art societies, to access quality art education, and to compete for the Prix de Rome, among other demands.

This fourth episode is devoted to the painter Virginie Demont-Breton, who pursued her career between Paris and Wissant, on the Opal Coast, in Northern France. The landscapes and humble fishing families of this region were a great source of inspiration to her. Her naturalistic paintings convey a harmonious vision, without omitting the harshness of living conditions. Born into a large family of artists, the painter achieved official and critical recognition during her lifetime and became known for her feminist activism with the Union of Women Painters and Sculptors.