In 19th century Europe, a fever had begun with public art institutions wanting to document the ever-evolving, fast-paced genres of this period. Free instructional classes, mainly focusing on live figure drawing studies, were plentiful; however, women were not allowed to participate because of the vulgarity assumed at the time. This forced many women to find established private artists to study directly under, and in the 1870s, a man named Charles Chaplin opened his studio up to all female students. This was a great step for female artists who, up until this point, were asked to focus on still-life drawings of fruits and landscape paintings.
While fine art painting is by far the most popular historically preserved and highly decorated works of art during this time, photography was introduced around 1839. This medium was highly influential within the art world and main society, and realism had become the key to the most acceptable types of art. Julia Margaret Cameron, a British photographer, became known for her portraits of celebrities of the time, and later for her legendary Arthurian-themed pictures. Her work has strongly impacted modern photography, as her close-cropped portraits are emulated today. Her work might have been forgotten if not for her shrewd business tactics of meticulously copyrighting and documenting everything.
It is well worth the time to individually study and appreciate the European painters of this time period. Many women were kept from marriage if painting was their chosen path, which often resulted in the abandonment of their artistic passions when the husband didn't approve. Those who succeeded in Europe include Rosa Bonheur, Sophie Gengembre Anderson, Marianne North, Marie Bracquemond, Berthe Morisot, Eva Gonzalès, Elisabeth Sonrel and Laura Theresa Alma-Tadema. Often, if a woman was to pursue the fine art of painting for her livelihood, it was dependent on an affluent family member's influence or financial support.
Probably the most recognizable female name of art during this period, Mary Stevenson Cassatt was originally considered an American avante garde artist, but during her family's travels throughout Europe she joined the ever-popular French Impressionists. She often explored the lives of women sharing tea, writing letters or caring for children in an almost photographic documentary style, stark and matter-of-fact. She was able to attend the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia. Another notable fact is her contribution to a massive mural featuring all women, which was shown at the 1893 World's Fair.
Lilla Cabot Perry was an American painter who didn't begin to practice until the age of 36. Her family was financially able to take numerous European travels, and she soon found her passion lay within French Impressionism. She studied directly under the creator of this genre, Claude Monet. She is said to have been an important advocate of this art style and greatly contributed to its reception in the United States.
Perhaps one of the original female illustrators we have, true to the detailed vein of Norman Rockwell, was Jennie Augusta Brownscombe. Born in poor conditions alone with her father, she was in a position to support herself after he died, and she did so as a teacher and illustrator of calendars and greeting cards that made their way into thousands of homes. She was perhaps one of the first household female artist names of the 19th century.