A new edition of one of the first books focusing on the world of women artists and their practice. Women have always practiced art, but for centuries the art world considered them merely amateurs. Their work was dismissed as second-class and they were viewed as intruders in a male profession. This study examines how, despite the odds, they overcame these difficulties and shifts the focus from women artists as 'victims' to a narrative about how they truly practiced their art. This poignant narrative documents the ongoing struggle of talented women who faced the exclusionary tactics of a male-dominated art establishment but moved forward unwaveringly to gain acceptance as recognized professionals. Frances Borzello leads readers deep into the confined world of women artists of the past, showing how they trained diligently, created studios, and sought supportive patrons. Starting with Renaissance painters Sofonisba Anguissola and Lavinia Fontana, the book reconstructs the evolving world of women artists as social attitudes evolved. Seventeenth-century painters Artemisia Gentileschi and Judith Leyster enjoyed success portraying female-related themes, as did eighteenth-century greats Angelica Kauffman and Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun with themes of motherhood. Further breakthroughs came in the nineteenth century as new hopefuls Mary Cassatt and Marie Bashkirtseff sought acceptance in exhibition societies and opened art schools. Finally, as equality for women advanced in the twentieth century, Augusta Savage, Georgia O'Keeffe, Frida Kahlo, Cindy Sherman, Mona Hatoum, and others paved the way for talented women today to secure their place in the pages of art. Now fully revised and updated, Frances Borzello's compelling narrative continues to inspire.