The first year of the Reilluminating the Age of Enlightenment: Women Artists of the 18^th Century research program, in collaboration with Rijksmuseum, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Museum (PAFA), Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA), and the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), seeks to inscribe women back into art historical narratives highlighting their significant cultural and social contributions throughout the 18^th century. Revisiting 18^th-century art history reveals a significant number of active women artists who practiced a wide variety of artistic disciplines, and often organized networks that transcended borders and barriers. Each partnering museum was selected for its commitment to more inclusive research, curatorial practices, and acquisitions.

AWARE, in collaboration with the research program “Women of the Rijksmuseum”, is publishing texts that highlight 18^th-century women artists of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and the context in which these women worked. PAFA’s contributions highlight the importance of women artists’ practices and work during the United States’ colonial and revolutionary eras, as well as during the country’s early history. In collaboration with the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Art Gallery of Ontario on the occasion of the Making Her Mark: A History of Women Artists in Europe, 1400-1800 exhibition, AWARE publishes biographical texts and research articles that reflect the multifaceted and often overlooked ways in which women contributed to the visual arts in Europe, creating works ranging from devotional sculptures and embroidered objects to portraits and academic history paintings.

This programme was made possible thanks to the support of Tavolozza Foundation and Anne-Françoise Gavanon.