The Story of Art without Men

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?

Have your sense of art history overturned, and your eyes opened to many art forms often overlooked or dismissed. From the Cornish coast to Manhattan, Nigeria to Japan, this is the story of art for our times - one with women at its heart, brought together for the first time by the creator of @thegreatwomenartists.

Review

Katy Hessel is a brilliant chronicler of the overlooked. I am so thrilled this book exists as an empowering, enlightening guide to the unforgettable vision of these brilliant artists. Essential reading -- Elizabeth Day

An inspiring, beautifully written corrective -- Bidisha Mamata ― Observer

Will change the history of art... thank God. -- Tracey Emin

Excellent, authoritative, exuberant and elegantly written -- Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of STALIN: THE COURT OF THE RED TSAR

I was not aware how hungry I was for this book until I dropped everything and ate it from cover to cover. I was not aware how angry I was that this book did not exist until it existed. It's an urgently needed, un-put-downable, joyful, insightful, glorious, perspective-shifting revision of the Story of Art. -- Es Devlin

A book for every aspiring art historian - whatever their sex -- '10 best art books of 2022' ― The Times

A long overdue, revisionist history of art by the brilliant Katy Hessel ... Never stuffy or supercilious, Hessel's book is a revelation and an important first step towards redressing the balance of an art world in which women have been sidelined, stepped over and trampled upon for far too long ― Refinery29

An extraordinary achievement that will have a disruptive cultural legacy and help deter­mine the landscape for years to come. -- Helena Lee ― Harper's Bazaar

Well-researched and enlightening ― Daily Express

Unapologetically revisionist ― Financial Times

About the Author

Katy Hessel is an art historian, broadcaster and curator dedicated to celebrating female artists. The founder of @thegreatwomenartists on Instagram and the podcast of the same name, she writes a fortnightly column in the Guardian, is a fellow of Cambridge University and a Trustee of Charleston. She has lectured at the National Gallery and Guggenheim, and presented programmes for the BBC.