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The Story of Art Without Men Hardcover – May 2, 2023

by Katy Hessel (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 431 ratings
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Instant New York Times bestseller
One of Vanity Fair's Favorite Books to Gift • One of PureWow's 42 Books to Gift This Year • One of Kirkus's Best Books of 2023

The story of art as it’s never been told before, from the Renaissance to the present day, with more than 300 works of art.

How many women artists do you know? Who makes art history? Did women even work as artists before the twentieth century? And what is the Baroque anyway?

Guided by Katy Hessel, art historian and founder of @thegreatwomenartists, discover the glittering paintings by Sofonisba Anguissola of the Renaissance, the radical work of Harriet Powers in the nineteenth-century United States and the artist who really invented the “readymade.” Explore the Dutch Golden Age, the astonishing work of postwar artists in Latin America, and the women defining art in the 2020s. Have your sense of art history overturned and your eyes opened to many artforms often ignored or dismissed. From the Cornish coast to Manhattan, Nigeria to Japan, this is the history of art as it’s never been told before.

100 color illustrations
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    512 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    W. W. Norton & Company
  4. Publication date
    May 2, 2023
  5. Dimensions
    6.5 x 1.3 x 9.6 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0393881865
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0393881868
  8. See all details
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From the Publisher

The Story of Art
The Story of Art
The Story of Art

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Excellent, authoritative, exuberant, and elegantly written."
― Simon Sebag Montefiore, on Twitter

"What Hessel achieves here is extraordinary . . . She covers a wide range of mediums (from silhouette papercutting to body art) and themes (including postcolonial narratives and queer pride). And though she keeps the focus on the women, she includes a few choice slurs by men as evidence of what these artists were―and are―up against . . . This [is a] spellbinding book."
― Margot Mifflin, Los Angeles Times

"[The Story of Art Without Men] should become a founding text in the history of art by women . . . Inspiring and indispensable."
― Bidisha Mamta, Guardian

"Sweeping . . . Part revisionist history, part coffee-table book, part collective portrait, part archival treasure hunt."
― Tiana Reid, New York Times

"A revelation and an important first step towards redressing the balance of an art world in which women have been sidelined."
― Katy Thompsett, Refinery29

"Katy Hessel presents art as you’ve never seen it before, with women in the spotlight―and without a Leonardo in sight."
― Rachel Campbell-Johnston, Times (London)

"There’s still some way to go until the gender imbalance is totally redressed, but The Story of Art Without Men, which describes how women achieved artistic excellence against colossal odds, has firmly cracked open the canon."
― Chloë Ashby, Spectator

"The Story of Art Without Men is an extraordinary achievement that will have a disruptive cultural legacy and help determine the landscape for years to come."
― Helena Lee, Harper’s Bazaar

"It’s a radical premise, rewriting history and upending the dominance men have held over so much of our culture. ([Hessel] includes sections on queer artists and artists of color, too.) Reading the book, I felt almost giddy as I reached each art-historical moment without the usual suspects mentioned."
― Grace Edquist, Vogue

"After reading The Story of Art Without Men, educators may aspire to redesign their art history surveys and syllabi―and trade some Picassos for Gegos."
― Nageen Shaikh, Hyperallergic

"An indispensable primer on the history of art, with an exclusive focus on women . . . A constructive, revelatory project . . . [and] an overdue upending of art historical discourse."
― Kirkus (starred review)

"I’d urge you to pick up [this] book, which is an extraordinary eye-opener, and very readable . . . We badly need books like Hessel’s."
― Hattie Crisell, Evening Standard

"This book has blown my mind. Really passionately recommend."
― India Knight, Sunday Times

"Hessel’s clear love for the history of art shines. She . . . embarks on nuanced, poetic visual descriptions with reverence and excitement, as if discovering her subjects for the first time. . . . The Story of Art Without Men is an invitation to constantly rethink art history and continue to fill in the gaps."
― Annabel Keenan, Artillery

About the Author

Katy Hessel is an art historian, presenter, and curator dedicated to celebrating female artists. The founder of @thegreatwomenartists on Instagram and the podcast of the same name, she lives in London.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ W. W. Norton & Company (May 2, 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 512 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0393881865
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0393881868
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.75 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 1.3 x 9.6 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 431 ratings

About the author

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Katy Hessel

Katy Hessel

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Katy Hessel is an art historian, broadcaster and curator dedicated to celebrating women artists from all over the world. She runs @thegreatwomenartists Instagram and The Great Women Artists Podcast, where she has interviewed the likes of Tracey Emin, Marina Abramovic and authors Ali Smith and Deborah Levy. Katy has lectured at Tate and National Gallery, presented films for the BBC, and is a Visiting Fellow at Cambridge University. She is a columnist for the Guardian, and the author of The Story of Art without Men – a Sunday Times Bestseller and winner of Waterstones Book of the Year 2022.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
431 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

himmelsgrau
5.0 out of 5 stars A New Perspective on an Old Story
Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2023
Verified Purchase
I have to confess I was worried I would read this and find it overly polemical in tone. While I understand that there are omissions in art histories I have been taught and have read, I think the answer is generally putting something in those gaps rather than being content to point out that gaps exist.

The book, in the first chapters, points out the limited opportunities women had in different eras of art history, but also discusses women artists who have either defied the odds by sheer force of talent or found ways to work within or around the art academies and other systems to get recognition, training, fame, and to create.

I have not finished the book, but I imagine the trajectory will be to highlight expanding opportunities later in history, while still indicating that there is much room for improvement in the acknowledgement of women artists.

What I really wanted from the book was to learn who I was missing out on in my art history classes, reading, and so on. And the book happily delivers on that premise. As long as it continues to do so, I will continue to enjoy reading and learning about women artists and their art. The book discusses how the women connect to the art movements--and yes, sometimes even the male artists--of their day, and also what sets their art apart.

Readable and educational. No issues so far.
12 people found this helpful
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Alana Sheeren
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and fascinating.
Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2024
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This was a wonderful gift for my mom. She loves books and art and stories about talented women so it was a win-win! I got it for her 80th birthday and she’s enjoying it.
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D
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!
Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2023
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This book presents fascinating histories and accompanying photos of painting, murals, and sculptures from the Renaissance on (including those of modern Black women}. My only wish is that all of the paintings could be large. But then this thick book would be very expensive.
As a female I am amazed by the hundreds of incredible female painters throughout history. Of course, like the majority of momentous females who have existed, our history knowledge and books rarely address them, even when their ideas and paintings led to whole movements.
Ms. Hessel's book is well worth the money. I bought it on pre-order and am so glad I did. It generates a small portion of pride in female accomplishments, something greatly needed today.
7 people found this helpful
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Katherine Sutton
5.0 out of 5 stars Just the book I wanted!
Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2024
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Arrived in perfect condition! Fast shipping too - thank you!
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rosemary pergolizzi
4.0 out of 5 stars Great art history and cultural analysis
Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2023
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In the process of reading the author’s research on Women underrepresented in Fine Art.
4 people found this helpful
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F. Callahan
5.0 out of 5 stars Inside fabulous, cover disappointing
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2023
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This book has beautiful color photos of the art throughout (almost every page!), the quality of the paper is exceptional and tactilely pleasing, and the text is engaging and well written. Even the organization of its comprehensive content—beyond painting to sculpture and fiber arts and more—is outstanding. In other words, the content inside is just wonderful and brings forward a cultural lack. HOWEVER the cover is dull and off putting. How ironic for a book celebrating women’s art. A lost opportunity.

A true case of “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Just buy this book and marvel at all the wonderful women artists over centuries.
30 people found this helpful
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Novacult
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read.
Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2023
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Eye opening and informative. Recommend.
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Brian
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book.
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2024
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I highly recommend this book if you’re an art lover and especially if you’re married to an art teacher!
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Top reviews from other countries

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N Warin
5.0 out of 5 stars A well written book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 6, 2024
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This is a well researched book. Good detail
A different take on the traditional view of art and artists
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Eva
5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous reading
Reviewed in Germany on January 20, 2024
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A must have on every literate’s bookshelf
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EUANL
5.0 out of 5 stars Andere invalshoek zelfde oogkleppen
Reviewed in the Netherlands on September 10, 2023
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Videos zijn leuker
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Maria Monegro
5.0 out of 5 stars Te da otra visión del mundo del arte.
Reviewed in Spain on February 11, 2024
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Yo estudié bellas artes en la universidad, pero en mis clases de historia del arte comenzábamos a ver mujeres ya en el siglo XX, este libro te permite ampliar la mirada sobre todo en la historia previa a este siglo. La historiadora es muy buena y hacer una excelente complicación. Sería interesante ver si más adelante realiza varios tomos, tipo enciclopedia.
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annalisa avon
2.0 out of 5 stars Noente di che
Reviewed in Italy on December 25, 2022
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Credo di preferire la Storia dell’arte CON gli uomini, opere e autrici qui sono a un livello davvero basso, mediamente
2 people found this helpful
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