The Art of the Invisible: A Critical Analysis of Anne Wagner’s "Three Artists (Three Women)"

Introduction

In the predominantly male-dominated world of abstract art, female artists have long struggled to gain recognition for their contributions to modernism. Anne Wagner’s groundbreaking dissertation, Three Artists (Three Women): Modernism and the Art of Hesse, Krasner, and O'Keeffe, sheds new light on this overlooked aspect of art history. This essay delves deeper into Wagner’s work, examining how her analysis has enriched our understanding of gender, abstraction, and modernism.

Source: Mullen Books

The Invisible Woman in Abstract Art

Wagner’s research begins with a fundamental question: why have female abstract artists been largely ignored in art history? To answer this, she focuses on three influential figures: Eva Hesse, Lee Krasner, and Georgia O'Keeffe. This selection is far from arbitrary; each artist represents a unique approach to abstraction and faced distinct challenges navigating the gender dynamics of the art world.

Eva Hesse: Redefining the Boundaries of Abstraction Eva Hesse, renowned for her innovative use of materials and forms, challenged the conventional definitions of abstract art. Wagner’s analysis highlights how Hesse blurred the lines between painting and sculpture, employing unconventional materials such as latex and rope to introduce a new dimension to abstract expression.

Wagner convincingly argues that Hesse’s work was not only technically groundbreaking but also deeply imbued with emotional and psychological resonance. By connecting Hesse’s personal history and struggles with illness to her artistic output, Wagner illustrates how abstract art can serve as a powerful medium for expressing inner experiences.

Lee Krasner: In the Shadow of a Giant Lee Krasner’s career was long overshadowed by her marriage to Jackson Pollock, one of the most celebrated figures of abstract expressionism. Wagner’s analysis of Krasner’s work is particularly valuable as it reveals how the artist developed her own distinctive style despite constant comparisons to her famous spouse.

Wagner illuminates Krasner’s use of collage and her cyclical approach to the creative process. By often reusing and transforming earlier works, Krasner created intricate, layered compositions. Wagner argues that this approach reflects Krasner’s ongoing quest for artistic identity in a world that frequently defined her in relation to Pollock.

Georgia O'Keeffe: Color, Emotion, and Landscape

The third artist in Wagner’s study offers a fascinating example of how abstract art can evoke landscapes and emotions. Wagner’s analysis of O'keeffe’s work is particularly compelling in uncovering the intricate relationship between color, form, and emotional expression in her paintings.

O'Keeffe’s work, though ostensibly entirely abstract, is deeply rooted in her memories of landscapes and natural experiences. Wagner argues that this challenges the conventional view that abstract art is entirely detached from visible reality.

Gender and Modernism: A New Lens

One of the most valuable aspects of Wagner’s research is her ability to situate the works of these three artists within the broader context of gender dynamics in the modernist art world. She demonstrates how each of these women grappled with the expectations and constraints imposed on them due to their gender.

Wagner’s analysis goes beyond merely highlighting the work of these artists; she examines how their gender influenced their reception and evaluation. Critics and curators, Wagner shows, often struggled to categorize their work, frequently resorting to gender stereotypes in their descriptions and analyses.

The Myth of the Male Genius

A central theme in Wagner’s research is the deconstruction of the myth of the male genius in abstract art. She reveals how this myth, which placed abstract expressionists like Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning on a pedestal, systematically marginalized the contributions of female artists.

Wagner excels in exposing how this myth was constructed and perpetuated. Her critical analysis of the language used in art criticism and exhibition catalogs shows how it often unconsciously reinforced gender stereotypes.

Redefining Abstraction

By focusing on Hesse, Krasner, and O'Keeffe, Wagner challenges conventional definitions of abstract art. She demonstrates how these artists each redefined abstraction’s boundaries, often by integrating elements traditionally considered “feminine,” such as emotional expression, corporeality, and a connection to nature.

Wagner’s analysis invites us to view abstract art as a broader and more inclusive field than previously acknowledged. She persuasively argues that recognizing the contributions of female artists enriches and complicates our understanding of what abstraction can be.

Critical Reflection on Wagner’s Methodology

While Wagner’s research is undoubtedly groundbreaking, it is also important to critically examine her methodology and assumptions. One potential critique is that by focusing on only three artists, Wagner risks generalizing about the experiences of all female abstract artists.

Additionally, one might argue that Wagner’s emphasis on gender sometimes comes at the expense of other significant factors that shaped these artists’ careers and work, such as class, ethnicity, or personal circumstances.

Nevertheless, Wagner’s work remains a crucial contribution to our understanding of gender and modernism. Her detailed analyses of individual artworks, combined with broader cultural and historical contextualization, offer a rich and nuanced perspective on the complex relationship between gender and abstract art.

The Legacy of Wagner’s Research

The importance of Wagner’s research extends beyond art history. By highlighting the contributions of female artists to modernism, her work contributes to a broader reevaluation of female creativity and agency in the 20th century.

Wagner’s scholarship has paved the way for further studies on marginalized voices in art history. Her methodology, which carefully analyzes artworks within their social and cultural contexts, provides a valuable model for future researchers seeking to explore underrepresented aspects of art history.

Implications for Museum Practices

One of the most tangible outcomes of Wagner’s research has been its influence on museum practices. Her work has contributed to a growing recognition of the need to revise and expand the canon of modern art.

Museums and galleries have increasingly focused on the work of female abstract artists, often inspired by the insights offered by Wagner’s research. This has led to major retrospectives of artists like Krasner and O'Keeffe, as well as renewed interest in the work of Eva Hesse.

Challenges Ahead

Despite the significant contributions of Wagner’s research, challenges remain in fully integrating female artists into the canon of modern art. A considerable gap persists in the market value between male and female abstract artists, and many surveys and curricula continue to underrepresent female artists.

Wagner’s research invites us to confront these challenges and strive for a more inclusive and nuanced approach to art history. It reminds us that the history of abstract art, and modernism more broadly, is still being written and rewritten.

Conclusion: A New Perspective on Modernism

Anne Wagner’s Three Artists (Three Women) is more than a study of three individual artists. It is a compelling call to revise our approach to art history. By carefully analyzing the works of Hesse, Krasner, and O'Keeffe within their historical and cultural contexts, Wagner reveals how gender played a pivotal role in the development and reception of abstract art.

Wagner’s research challenges us to look beyond established narratives of modernism. She demonstrates that acknowledging and valuing the contributions of female artists provides a richer and more complex understanding of what abstract art can be and mean.

Ultimately, Wagner’s work serves as a powerful reminder that art history is not static but continually rewritten and reconsidered. By integrating the voices and experiences of previously marginalized artists, we not only create a fuller history but also open new possibilities for the future of art.