Famous Paintings Of Women By Renowned Artists

Women have been one of the most beloved subjects for artists throughout the ages. In classical art, women were regularly delineated as goddesses and legendary female characters.

In the fifteenth century, we saw a rise in portraits of women. These portrait paintings were frequently authorized by rich and noble families.

In our modern time, women are still subjects for various artists. I hope you enjoy these masterpiece paintings of famous women.

Famous Paintings Of Women

1. The Dream by Pablo Picasso
2. Whistler’s Mother by James McNeill Whistler
3. Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci
4. Portrait of Dora Maar by Pablo Picasso
5. La Maja Desnuda by Francisco Goya
6. Portrait of Madame X by John Singer Sargent
7. Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I by Gustav Klimt
8. The Cup of Tea by Mary Cassatt
9. The Lady of Shalott by John William Waterhouse
10. Woman with a Parasol - Madame Monet and Her Son by Claude Monet
11. The Crystal Ball by John William Waterhouse
12. Woman with a Hat by Henri Matisse
13. Woman with Fan by Gustav Klimt
14. Flaming June by Frederic Leighton
15. Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer
16. Venus of Urbino by Titian 

The Dream by Pablo Picasso

Le Rêve (The Dream) is an oil painting by Pablo Picasso. At this point in time, Picasso was 50 years of age, and he was depicting his 24-year-old female partner Marie-Thérèse Walter. 

The sexual substance within the painting has been noted over and again, with pundits bringing up that Picasso painted an erect penis, apparently symbolizing his own.

In March 2013, Le Reve was sold in a private deal for $155 million making it the fifth most costly painting sold at that time.

Artist: Pablo Picasso

Created: 1932

Period: Cubism

Medium: Oil on canvas

Dimensions: 4′ 3″ x 3′ 2″

Location‎: ‎Private collection of ‎Steven A. Cohen

Famous 20th Century Paintings

 

Whistler’s Mother by James McNeill Whistler

Arrangement in Grey and Black No.1 is the formal title given to this painting which was created by an American painter James McNeill Whistler in 1871.

The subject of the painting is Whistler's mother, Anna McNeill Whistler. Anna McNeill Whistler is believed to have actually modeled for the painting. When she lived in London at Cheyne Walk, Chelsea.

Another story related to this painting is that Whistler called upon his youthful neighbor, Helena Amelia Lindgren to sit in Anna's place when she became tired of modeling.

The painting turned into a symbol of motherhood when the U.S. Mail station printed the painting into their stamps with the adage “In Memory and Honor of the Mothers of America.”

Artist: James McNeill Whistler

Created: 1871

Period: Realism

Medium: Oil on canvas

Dimensions: 1,443 mm × 1,624 mm (56.81 in × 63.94 in)

Location‎: Louvre Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi

 

Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci

Mona Lisa, otherwise called La Gioconda, was thought to be the spouse of Francesco del Giocondo.

La Gioconda is wearing a Florentine style dress of her day and situated in a portrait format with a mountain's landscape scene behind her.

Artist: Leonardo da Vinci

Created: 1503

Period: Renaissance

Medium: Oil on canvas

Dimensions: 2′ 6″ x 1′ 9″

Location‎: Louvre Museum (since 1797)

Leonardo Da Vinci Most Famous Paintings

 

Portrait of Dora Maar by Pablo Picasso

Another woman who came into Picasso's life in 1936, a youthful Yugoslavian, Dora Maar, whose actual name was Dora Markovic. She was also a companion of the writer Paul Eluard.

In the portrait, she is situated in an easy chair, her head faced to the right of the observer while her fingers play with her hair.

Artist: Pablo Picasso

Created: 1937

Period: Cubism

Medium: Oil on canvas

Dimensions: 36 1/5 × 25 3/5 in 92 × 65 cm

Location‎: Musée Picasso, Paris, France

 

La Maja Desnuda by Francisco Goya

The Nude Maja is another name given to this painting, it was created by the Spanish artist Francisco Goya. It depicts a nude woman leaning back on a bed of pads and pillows. It was most likely commissioned by Manuel de Godoy, to hang in his private art collection.

Artist: Francisco Goya

Created: 1797–1800

Period: Romanticism

Medium: Oil on canvas

Dimensions: 3′ 2″ x 6′ 3″

Location‎: Museo Nacional del Prado

Francisco Goya Most Famous Paintings

 

Portrait of Madame X by John Singer Sargent

Madame X portrays Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau, the spouse of the French broker Pierre Gautreau.

Sargent shows a woman in a dark satin dress with jeweled straps on the dress. The portrait has contrasting colors, the pale skin tone of the subject against the dim black dress, and the background of the composition.

Sargent wrote to friend about Gautreau and said

"I have a great desire to paint her portrait and have reason to think she would allow it and is waiting for someone to propose this homage to her beauty. If you are 'bien avec elle' and will see her in Paris, you might tell her I am a man of prodigious talent."

Artist: John Singer Sargent

Created: 1883–1884

Period: Realism

Medium: Oil on canvas

Dimensions: 7′ 8″ x 3′ 7″

Location‎: Metropolitan Museum of Art, Manhattan

Top 10 Most Famous Paintings by John Singer Sargent

 

Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I by Gustav Klimt

Adele is the spouse of the industrialist Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer. Bauer appointed Klimt to paint a portrait of Adele twice.

This painting helped increase Klimt's professional stature as an artist. Pundits came up with the saying 'Mehr Blech wie Bloch',  meaning more money than Bloch, for how much the painting cost.

The portrait is a remarkable display of natural geometric shapes. From her face, hands, the elaborate dress, and the bright golden background of the painting.

Artist: Gustav Klimt

Created:1907

Period: Art Nouveau

Medium: Oil on canvas, Gold

Dimensions: 4′ 6″ x 4′ 6″

Location‎s: Private collection, Neue Galerie

 

The Cup of Tea by Mary Cassatt

Taking evening tea was a social custom for some of the upper collar class. This painting focused on depicting that customary occasion.

Her model for this canvas was her sister, Lydia who frequently modeled for her. 

Artist: Mary Cassatt

Created: 1880s

Period: Impressionism

Medium: Oil on canvas

Dimensions: 92.4 cm (36.4 in) × 65.4 cm (25.7 in)

Location‎: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Top 20 Mary Cassatt Famous Paintings

 

The Lady of Shalott by John William Waterhouse

Waterhouse painted three forms of this in 1888, 1894, 1915. Lady Sharlott is wearing a virginal white garment. 

The fallen leaves in the water signify that harvest time is approaching. And symbolizes the loss of something.

Artist: John William Waterhouse

Created: 1888

Periods: Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, Romanticism

Medium: Oil on canvas

Dimensions: 5′ 0″ x 6′ 7″

Location‎: Tate Britain, London

 

Woman with a Parasol - Madame Monet and Her Son by Claude Monet

This painting was highly commended when it first showed up in the second Impressionist presentation in 1876.

Woman with a Parasol was painted outside, most likely within a few hours. Splendid daylight sparkles from Camille's (the woman in the painting) back as she turns to view her observer with her parasol in her hand and her child next to her.

Artist: Claude Monet

Created: 1875

Period: Impressionism

Medium: Oil on canvas

Dimensions: 3′ 3″ x 2′ 8″

Location‎: National Gallery of Art

Claude Monet Most Famous Paintings

 

The Crystal Ball by John William Waterhouse

The Crystal Ball is a charming painting from John William Waterhouse which features various styles of Renaissance and British Pre-Raphaelite art.

Waterhouse completed this painting in 1902 and immediately put it on display in the Royal Academy.

The model looks into the ball, leaving the watcher to imagine what she may be seeing and thinking about. 

Artist: John William Waterhouse

Created: 1902

Period: Romanticism

Medium: Oil on canvas

Dimensions: 120.7 cm × 87.7 cm (47.5 in × 34.5 in)

Location‎: Private collection

Top 10 Most Famous Paintings by John William Waterhouse

 

Woman with a Hat by Henri Matisse

Women with a Hat (Femme au chapeau) was at the focal point of the art drama, during its time that prompted the present-day art movement of Fauvism.

The term Fauve ("wild beast"), was begotten by an art pundit because of the wild brushstrokes in the painting. And it turned out to be everlastingly word connected with the artists who displayed their art with splendid hued colors. 

Femme au chapeau denoted an elaborate change from the controlled brushstrokes of Matisse's prior works, to a progressively expressive individualistic style. His utilization of non-naturalistic colors and free brushwork added a unique quality to the painting.

The model in the painting is the artist's significant other, Amélie. She is portrayed in an intricate outfit.

Artist: Henri Matisse

Created: 1905

Period: Fauvism

Medium: Oil on canvas

Dimensions: 2′ 8″ x 2′ 0″

Location‎: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

Top 10 Most Famous Paintings by Henri Matisse

 

Woman with Fan by Gustav Klimt

Klimt painted this during the later Art Nouveau movement. The features of Art Nouveau focus on natural structures and emphasize on nature. 

This painting is very elegant with a golden background, loaded with blossoms and a turquoise winged creature. The lady is painted in a Japanese dress, much like a kimono, while holding a Japanese fan.

Artist: Gustav Klimt

Created: 1918

Period: Art Nouveau

Medium: Oil on canvas

Dimensions: 325′ 0″ x 325′ 0″

Location‎: Leopold Museum

Top 10 Famous Paintings by Gustav Klimt

 

Flaming June by Frederic Leighton

Flaming June gave Leighton a lot of technical art issues. He made various sketches to figure out how she should would be positioned; in particular, he experienced some challenges in making her arms the right size.

Artist: Frederic Leighton

Created: 1895

Period: Classicism

Medium: Oil on canvas

Dimensions: 3′ 11″ x 3′ 11″

Location‎: Museo de Arte de Ponce

 

Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer

Girl with a Pearl Earring depicts a young lady in a dark shallow space, producing an intimate scene, that draws the watcher's attention on her.

She wears a blue and gold turban, a titular pearl earring, and a gold jacket with a white-collar underneath.

In contrast to many of Vermeer's subjects, she isn't concentrating on a daily task and unaware of her observer. Instead, she turns her head, meeting the observer's gaze with her eyes, and her lips parted as if about to speak.

Artist: Johannes Vermeer

Created: 1665

Period: Dutch Golden Age

Medium: Oil on canvas

Dimensions: 1′ 6″ x 1′ 3″

Location‎: Mauritshuis

 

Venus of Urbino by Titian

The painting displays a nude young woman, the goddess Venus. She is leaning back on a lounge chair or bed with luxurious surroundings.

In this delineation of Venus, Titian has moved Venus to an indoor setting and has drawn her closer for the observer to see in detail.

Artist: Titian

Period: Renaissance

Created: 1538

Medium: Oil on canvas

Dimensions: 3′ 11″ x 5′ 5″

Location‎: Uffizi Gallery

100 Most Famous Paintings In The World 

The Strength and Grace of Women in Renaissance Art

The Renaissance period marked a significant evolution in the portrayal of women, showcasing them with an unprecedented level of detail and respect. This section delves into how artists like Titian and Leonardo da Vinci revolutionized female representation, imbuing their subjects with dignity, strength, and grace.

Focusing on masterpieces like the "Venus of Urbino" and the "Mona Lisa", we explore the subtle nuances that these artists used to convey the complex nature of women, setting a new standard for future generations.

Breaking Boundaries: Women as Muses and Artists in Baroque Art

The Baroque era brought dramatic narratives and intricate details to the forefront of art, with women both as muses and as emerging artists themselves. This paragraph highlights the dual role women played during this period, not only inspiring masterpieces like Velázquez’s "Las Meninas" but also creating their own significant works, as seen in the achievements of Artemisia Gentileschi.

By examining the impact of female artists and subjects in Baroque art, we gain insight into the evolving perception of women in the art world.

Impressionism and the New Woman: A Glimpse into Changing Societies

Impressionism offered a fresh perspective on everyday life, with artists capturing moments of modern existence in bold, swift strokes. This section discusses how Impressionist painters like Mary Cassatt and Claude Monet portrayed women in a new light, emphasizing their roles in the changing social landscapes of the 19th century.

Through paintings like "The Cup of Tea" and "Woman with a Parasol", we observe the emergence of the 'New Woman' - independent, educated, and active in public life.

The Avant-Garde and the Female Form: Expressionism to Cubism

As the art world moved towards more abstract and expressive styles, the depiction of women evolved accordingly. This paragraph explores how artists from the Expressionist and Cubist movements, including Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse, deconstructed and reimagined the female form in innovative ways.

Works like "The Dream" and "Woman with a Hat" not only challenged traditional aesthetics but also reflected the shifting roles and perceptions of women in early 20th-century society.

Contemporary Reflections: Women in Modern and Postmodern Art

In the modern and postmodern eras, artists continue to explore and challenge the depiction of women, often addressing themes of identity, gender, and power. This section examines how contemporary artists build upon the legacy of their predecessors to present women in diverse and thought-provoking manners.

By considering the work of artists who span a range of styles and mediums, we see how the portrayal of women in art remains a dynamic and evolving conversation, reflecting the complexities of womanhood through the ages.

 

Check out these Famous Artists who have shaped the art world!

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