Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1162040
Opposite page: Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio's Martha and Mary Magdalene, 1598. art, it is a clear signal of the slowly deteriorating notion of artists only being men — and their muses, only women. T h i s i s n o t a m o m e n t t o d e b u n k accepted classics — and it is inarguable that Caravaggio's depiction of Mary and Martha Magdalene is of masterpiece quality. Yet the zeitgeist of modern feminism, #MeToo, and closing the gap of gender disparity has forced us to think deeper, rejecting the notion of taking everything at simple face value. Can we see past, for example, the murder allegations that haunted Caravaggio late in life — only to see the work for its example of skill and mastery? Should we examine the works of Picasso and Gauguin with a quizzical brow for their notoriously questionable relationships with women? Or, should we look at them strictly for their artistic innovations. As contemporary so-called masters are concerned, should we disassociate the word masterpiece with an artist such as Chuck Close, who in 2017 was accused of sexual harassment? And what say the art world of its search for what we will call mistress-pieces: great works of art created by women. An example is set by a museum such as the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth. The museum adds roughly one to two works to its cache every year — and in 2019 it acquired a new painting by a female artist, now only the third in its permanent collection. When more women artists make up the names of those inducted into a major museum's repertoire, the hope must be that future generations identify the word masterpiece not just with works made by men, but by others made by women. A new era is certainly upon us — one where women are no longer objectified in painting and sculpture, as in centuries past, but rather recognized for the masterpieces of their creation that hold solid ground within the canon of art history. "Caravaggio: Martha and Mary Magdalene," through September 22, at Dallas Museum of Art, dma.org. New Orleans Auction g a l l e r i e s 333 Saint Joseph Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130 www.neworleansauction.com | 504-566-1849 | info@neworleansauction.com LA Auction License AB-363 | 25% Buyer's Premium Catalogue Online September 18 October 5-6, 2019 Estates Auction BROWSE & BID George Rodrigue (American/Louisiana, 1944-2013) "Black Tie Dogs" lifesize painted fiberglass sculpture 1 of 3 Unique Sculptures Created by George Rodrigue for the 1999 Cows on Parade in Chicago. at www.neworleansauction.com