When it comes to the classical masters of painting, it is generally thought that genre is dominated by men. Names like Da Vinci, Velásquez, Picasso, Matisse and Van Gogh are admired and worshipped for their painting brilliance. However, renowned painter and illustrator Anita Kunz has decided to explore what might have happened if these great works of art were in fact, the province of women. In her upcoming book from Fantagraphics, Another History of Art, Kunz displays her talent and witticism in a collection of paintings showing things from the female modern masters perspective. Each one brilliantly executed with touches of whimsy and satire. Here is the Press Release for her book, coming June 22nd.
Award-Winning Painter & Illustrator Anita Kuntz’s ANOTHER HISTORY OF ART is a Sumptuous, Witty, Feminist Alternate History of Western Art
On Sale from Fantagraphics This June
(June 15) Have you ever imagined that you lived in a different and glorious world where all the recognized masterpieces in the Western pantheon of art history were painted by women? If not, no problem: The renowned and award-winning painter and illustrator Anita Kunz has imagined it for you in her hilariously inventive and masterfully executed ANOTHER HISTORY OF ART, which Fantagraphics will publish this June.
From the Renaissance to the pop art movement, the most lauded paintings in the history of Western art have been almost entirely manmade. But in ANOTHER HISTORY OF ART, award-winning painter and illustrator Anita Kuntz filters these iconic works through the female gaze. Her alternative history celebrates an august pantheon of Old Mistresses and mothers of Modern art. Composed of such familiar figures as Leona da Vinci, Diega Velásquez, Paola Picasso, Henrietta Matisse, and Vincenza Van Gogh, the talented yet troubled young woman whose true genius was not recognized until long after her untimely death.
ANOTHER HISTORY OF ART is a brilliantly satirical and feminist counterfactual history of art conceived, written, and painted by one of our most accomplished contemporary artists. Conceived with delicious wit, boundless humor, and an eye for the telling aesthetic detail, Kunz’s recreations are not only stunning paintings in their own right but a sly, revisionist social commentary on the male-dominated history of Western civilization. Included on each page opposite the painting is a brief biography of each woman artist.
Fantagraphics will publish the surreal and hilarious parody ANOTHER HISTORY OF ART on June 22, 2021.
About the Artist
Anita Kunz is an acclaimed illustrator and painter whose work has graced the covers of the New Yorker, Time, Rolling Stone, The New York Times Magazine, and many other mass circulation periodicals. She was named one of the 50 most influential women in Canada by the National Post. In addition, she was the first woman and the first Canadian to have a solo show at the Library of Congress. She has been appointed Officer of the Order of Canada, the country’s highest civilian honor. She lives in Toronto.
Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 60 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove headfirst over a cliff (Ok, it was a small hill) to try to rescue his Fantastic Four comic from a watery grave. I am married to a lovely woman who is as crazy as I am and the proud parent of a 21-year-old young man with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.
