Vision and Difference: Femininity, Feminism and Histories of Art

by Griselda Pollock

The publication of 'Vision and Difference' marked a milestone in the development of modern art history. Its introduction of a feminist perspective into this largely male-oriented discipline made shockwaves that are still felt forcefully today.
Drawing upon feminist cultural theory previously little applied to the visual arts, Griselda Pollock offers concrete historical analyses of key moments in the formation of modern culture to reveal the sexual politics at the heart of modernist art. Crucially, she not only provides a feminist re-reading of the work of canonical male Impressionist and Pre-Raphaelite artists including Edgar Degas and Dante Gabriel Rossetti, but also re-inserts into art history their female contemporaries - women artists such as Berthe Morisot and Mary Cassatt. Casting her critical eye over the contemporary art scene, Pollock discusses the work of women artists such as Mary Kelly and Yve Lomax, highlighting the problems of working in a culture where the feminine is still defined as the object of the male gaze.
Now published with a new introduction by Griselda Pollock, 'Vision and Difference' remains as powerful and as essential reading as ever for all those seeking not only to understand the history of the feminine in art but also to develop new strategies for representation for the future.

Genres: Art, Art History, Feminism, Nonfiction, History, Theory, Academic

256 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1988

About the author

Griselda Pollock is a visual theorist, cultural analyst and scholar of international, postcolonial feminist studies in the visual arts. Based in England, she is well known for her theoretical and methodological innovation, combined with readings of historical and contemporary art, film and cultural theory. She is professor of social and critical histories of art at the University of Leeds.

Reviews

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not an easy read, very academic. But if you enjoy art history like I do, you'll like it :)

[Khoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Along with Linda Nochlin, Griselda Pollock is undoubtedly one of the most significant figure in feminist art history. Her essays are written with great clarity and her ideas thoroughly excavated. She posed the questions of whether the belated inclusion of female artists in established art histories is truly appropriate and adequate, and explored the root errors dated back long before Manet's Olympia. Being a sterling researcher and unabashed champion of female artists, in her monographic essays on Berthe Morisot and Mary Cassatt, she discussed the specificity of their oeuvre in tight comparison with their male contemporaries.

It's such a shame I didn't come across this book sooner when I was struggling with my last semester's essays which would have been enriched greatly by the ideas put forth in this book. I would love to study more of her work in the parameter of a proper course rather than simply just through reading, as there is ample room for discussion of the issues surrounding art history and a practice, both in its flaws and scaffolding paradigm.

[Mohamed · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a great read. It spoke mainly of four broad topics: the level to which sexism and misogyny are systematised in art history, the benefits to he had from incorporating Marxist and feminist theory to build a new art history, the creation of the individual creative masculine artist as a subject indépendant of its conditions throughout the modernist movement, and the voyeuristic and fetishistic dynamic which occupies the space of viewing art. Many great works analysed and used to back up the claim, and overall a pretty easy read if you know a few things about psychoanalysis and Marxism

[Fenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

heavy read but learnt a lot about female representation, esp from the ‘beginnings’ of art history

[lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

goodreads will be a downer for me if i dont include my thesis readings as well this year

[Jaime García Parras · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ensayo denso, pero con un desarrollo de lo que nos quiere contar bastante bien explicada, no sólo exponiendo su visión, sino también contraponiéndolas a otras contemporáneas a la suya.

Los distintos puntos de vista en los que se apoya (sexo, clase, raza, lenguaje, etc.) están, a mi parecer, muy bien dirigidos. Sin embargo, en sus dos últimos capítulos acaba por centrarse en el psicoanálisis y, aunque intenta argumentarlo, la sentí innecesaria por los supuestos que finalmente recoge.

[Lilly Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only read “spaces of femininity” from this book, which was mind boggling and frustrating at times, but I loved reading how Pollock struggled herself to analyze femininity in painting, juggling the ideas of inherent sexual difference and lived experience.

[Jeremy Blank · Rating 3 out of 5]

Re-read from a long time ago. I wanted to see what had changed (from my perspective) since I read this book nineteen years ago. Quite a lot really and some aspects I missed in the initial read of this dense and forceful book I did not contest but have more confidence now. e.g. the failure to acknowledge that large flat areas of paint or space in Impressionist/Post-Impressionist painting (the interpretation of internalised space within painting p63 final paragraph ) were directly linked to the interest in and exposure to Japanese prints where flat colour and space were a significant design aspect. The book cites other rather more political reasons which seem somewhat less convincing than the established view of the importance of Japoneserie on Impressionism which is evident across many of the movements protagonists. The final chapter is still relevant and important in establishing a foundation for students to refer to in terms of understanding what the 1970s represent in terms of thinking and societal change in conceptualisation. The photo/installation works provide strong contextual references for critical discussion on conceptual and aesthetic values from a time of action and challenge to the establishment of the day.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book taught me to think differently about history-- not just art history, but all of history and the political perspectives inherent within it. I highly reccomend this to everyone-- especially those with an interest in art.

[Braden Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pollock analyses psychoanalytic theory in art in such a way that acknowledges some sillyness, but does not refute the field as one with strong attributes. Also, insisting on repositioning marxism as something outside of feminism is so obvious and refreshing to see in academia.

[Sibel]

History of Art!

[Nguyen Bich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting

[Whitney Gao · Rating 5 out of 5]

Used this book for my thesis research, but honestly loved reading it so much that I bought my own copy.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Modernism is to art history and practice what the classic realism of Hollywood cinema is to film theory. We need a similarly comprehensive theorization of the sexual politics which it inscribes. To produce this we need to engage with theories whose primary object is the manufacture of sexual difference. Going beyond offering feminist readings of individual modernist paintings or oeuvres we need to analyse the systems which generated them. Modernism is structured around sexual politics but these are displaced by the manifest content of modernist discourse, the celebration of creative masculine individualism. The figure of the artist always assumed to be masculine in critical and economic practices around art is matched by the sign woman which is its signifier within representational systems. This is as pertinent in figurative art as in those works that claim to investigate nature or the cosmic void - the polarities are always gendered and hierarchical.

[Elisa Conlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read! I think everyone who studies/ has an interest in art history must read this.

Pollock writes clearly and covers the issues of representation of women as artists, within art and as symbols within the patriarchal history of the creation of art. She greatly covers the intersection between gender and class throughout the book, giving a Marxist analysis on some of the issues covered in the book.

At some points of the book I found the language difficult but it didn’t seem excessively inaccessible.

[George Millership · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd say groundbreaking, but it feels like Pollock is introducing common sense into a hegemonic and wanky art world! (That, of course, is a disservice).
These are incredible essays, and an essential reader for understanding art and how its histories/politics are constructed.
That being said, I wouldn't say it is an accessible work. There's lots of dense, technical language - Pollock certainly doesn't treat you like an idiot.

(9/10)

[Apoorva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skipped the last chapter since I didn’t find it sufficiently aligned with my tastes at the moment (I might come back to it) but the rest of the book was a revelation in terms of my growing interest in feminist art history.

[Wiktoria S · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5☆
This book could have been a lot shorter, Pollock repeats herself over and over again. I couldn't concentrate really while reading this, because of the very academic writing.
These things aside, Pollock wrote some interesting thoughts in this book.

[Bryleigh Pierce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read and something I go back to and reference often although very academic so it was a bit difficult to get through at some points.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

alguns capitols molt be i en d’altres massa psicoanalisi. en general molt guai però tambe molt blanc tot aixi que no se. em pregunto q opinaria la mckittrick

[Samaritasilee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lectura para el tfm, he encontrado muchas ideas en el texto, pero Griselda Pollock es muy complicada de leer

[Natalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un excelente libro si ya tienes una base en ciertos temas como teoría feminista, teoría del arte y psicoanálisis. La mirada que propone es una excelente base para trabajar temas de género y arte.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's so good that I'm planning on buying my own copy :)

[Izabella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only read one section, but it wass very interesting

[javiersioux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Griselda Pollock demostrando con la clarividencia y rigor que le caracteriza cómo la disciplina de la Historia del Arte necesita una deconstrucción y una recomposición absolutamente radical, teniendo como pieza clave al feminismo. Una lectura obligada para historiadores en ciernes y para todxs aquellxs que quieran descubrir hasta dónde, en qué grado y qué materias están corroídas por el patriarcado y cómo desmantelarlo y afrontarlo para que suponga un nuevo renacer metodológico.