The story of art without men: an illustrated guide to amazing women artists

This book is a fascinating look at art history that focuses entirely on female artists from the 1500s to the present day. It was born from the realisation that the author, an art historian, couldn’t name ten female artists. This then spawned social media accounts highlighting women in art and eventually the original adult version of The Story of Art Without Men which came out in 2022 and the new version for younger readers.

The book itself is divided in movements which are introduced general and then in terms of women’s history and women’s art. You learn about the styles and features typical of each movement, alongside notable works of art and their stories. Occasionally there are sections called ‘spotlights’ on a particular form of art such as needlepoint, or an artist such as Frida Kahlo.

Despite not featuring as many familiar (male) names as a dual-gender art history book, it still provides a thorough journey through art history that is ideal for those studying the subject or interest in it for their own pleasure. It’s truly a book to pour over and devour page by page.

Alongside the art history there are also sections on social history too – the suffragette movement, the civil rights movement and the feminist movement of the 1970s for examples, and how they are reflected in art. It’s a must-have for art lovers and those interested in the study of women’s history too, whether at home, in the library or at school.