On Saturday morning, your online art gallery celebrated International Women’s Rights Day, an important moment to reflect on the equality, freedom and recognition of women in all areas of society. Philippe gave a talk at the Château du Bois-la-Croix entitled: “Women artists before and after 1977”.

When thinking about equal rights for women, it is important to turn to art, a field in which, as elsewhere, women have long been invisible. Philippe suggested thinking about how women artists were perceived and represented before and after 1977, the year in which women’s rights were officially recognised by the United Nations.
And a devastating realisation emerged: 1% of women artists are represented in France’s national collections.

Philippe presented the vision of a male-dominated world and drew parallels with literature and Virginia Woolf’s revolt. He spoke about the current challenges and the quest for equality.
“The works of our female visual artists not only depict the world, they take control of their own representation, redefine their role and offer a more authentic and complex image of women, far removed from stereotypes and societal expectations.”

He concluded by saying: “Ladies and gentlemen, even if this day is a moment of reflection on women’s rights, it is important to realise that the history of art is also the history of a struggle for equality. Through the biographies of women artists before and after 1977, we can see that they have played a fundamental role in the construction of our culture. Their story is one of a quest for freedom and emancipation that continues to inspire and change our view of art and the world.”

Natascha – Team Switzerland.