Women Impressionists

Garb, an art historian specializing in women's studies, here examines the lives and work of late 19th century artists Marie Bracquemond, Mary Cassatt, Eva Gonzales and Berthe Morisot. She places the artists into the context of their times, highlighting their family and social histories, their educational backgrounds, their circles of friends and colleagues and the limitations imposed on each by being female. Illustrated by 32 excellent color plates and several black-and-white reproductions, the paintings are analyzed both from a formal viewpointconsidering light quality, color, form and compositionand from an historical one. The author has compiled an informative, well-written guide that avoids the ghettoized feel of somebooks devoted only to female artists.(November)