Anonymous Was a Woman: A Celebration in Words and Images of Traditional American Art and the Women Who Made It (Paperback)

by Mirra Bank (Author), Phyllis Rose (Preface) "What virtues do you wish you had more of?" asks Mr. L..." (more)
Key Phrases: Lucy Larcom, New England Girlhood, Cerinthy Ann (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Exquisite. . .To study it even for the shortest time is to feel exhilarated." --Germaine Greer

"Anonymous Was a Woman celebrates the raw creativity of America's lost artists: our foremothers." --Rita Mae Brown

"As true a lovingly pieced-together patchwork quilt as the artifacts of the ordinary women it celebrates...very moving." --Merge Piercy

"A splendid book, original, perceptive, and deeply moving." --Gerda Lerner, writer and historian

"A wonderful addition to the literature." --Adam Gopnik, art critic for The New Yorker
-- Review

Review

"Exquisite. . .To study it even for the shortest time is to feel exhilarated." --Germaine Greer

"Anonymous Was a Woman celebrates the raw creativity of America's lost artists: our foremothers." --Rita Mae Brown

"As true a lovingly pieced-together patchwork quilt as the artifacts of the ordinary women it celebrates...very moving." --Merge Piercy

"A splendid book, original, perceptive, and deeply moving." --Gerda Lerner, writer and historian

"A wonderful addition to the literature." --Adam Gopnik, art critic for The New Yorker

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (September 15, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312134304
• ISBN-13: 978-0312134303
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #232,036 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #10 in	Books > Arts & Photography > History & Criticism > Women in Art
  #35 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Schools, Periods & Styles > Prehistoric & Primitive
  #77 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Schools, Periods & Styles > Folk Art

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars how many women artists can you name?, August 15, 2000

By	jennifer courtney "jencourtney17" (Providence, Rhode Island) - See all my reviews

One day in an education class, my professor asked how many female artists can you name? Granted none of the people in the class were art majors but at most we came up with two, Virgina Woolfe and Mary Casset. Many people could not name any female artists. I found it astounding that in the history of western art, I could only think of two women painters. Taking the suggestion this professor, I decide to read the book "Anonymous was a woman" by Mirra Blank. I found the book intriguing and was impressed at its unveiling of how important domestic crafts like samplers and quilts were to women in the late eighteenth century and nineteenth century. The book has great photographs and anecdotal information that gives insight to the female mind of this time period. The images include quilts, velvet, and watercolor paintings. Excerpts are taken from the diaries of famous women like Louisa May Alcott and anonymous women who have been forgotten. The author also includes certain male points of view with repect to proper female conduct and love. I thought this book was great at revealing how many female artists there have been and their contribution to the American landscape.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars how many women artists can you name?, August 15, 2000

By	jennifer courtney "jencourtney17" (Providence, Rhode Island) - See all my reviews

One day in an education class, my professor asked how many female artists can you name? Granted none of the people in the class were art majors but at most we came up with two, Virgina Woolfe and Mary Casset. Many people could not name any female artists. I found it astounding that in the history of western art, I could only think of two women painters. Taking the suggestion this professor, I decide to read the book "Anonymous was a woman" by Mirra Blank. I found the book intriguing and was impressed at its unveiling of how important domestic crafts like samplers and quilts were to women in the late eighteenth century and nineteenth century. The book has great photographs and anecdotal information that gives insight to the female mind of this time period. The images include quilts, velvet, and watercolor paintings. Excerpts are taken from the diaries of famous women like Louisa May Alcott and anonymous women who have been forgotten. The author also includes certain male points of view with repect to proper female conduct and love. I thought this book was great at revealing how many female artists there have been and their contribution to the American landscape.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Anonymous Was a Woman, a treasure, January 16, 2007

By	Simply Sage "Sage" (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews

I love this book! As a needle woman myself, the accounts of other such women were dear to my heart. I gave it to my mother who taught me to sew and embroider and was sorry my grandmother who taught my mother was no longer living to share it with her. I particularly liked how the book divided the stages of the early women's lives and connected the stitcheries with journal entries. Some of the quotations are expressions of my own feelings. Anyone who uses a needle would find this a gem.