Female painters’ (self-)portraits from 16th-17th century Italy

Abstract

The aim of the essay – through the (self-)portraits of three female painters, Sofonisba Anguissola, Lavinia Fontana, Artemisia Gentileschi – is to outline the possible ways to self-actualize and self-expression of the women during the Renaissance and the Baroque period. The modes of approaches to the study are quite complex, so I wanted to shed light on the interconnections with a mosaic-like references to the history of art, literature, society and mentalities.