The Reckoning: Women Artists of the New Millennium

Eleanor Heartney
Prestel

Linda Nochlin’s maxim that “After the revolution comes the reckoning” provides this volume with its title and its overarching theme. The Reckoning  documents the aftermath of feminist art of the 1960s and 1970s, and discusses how this has impacted upon the output of contemporary female artists.

The book is divided into parts, each dealing with a predominant theme underlying feminist artistic practice. Bad Girls , featuring artists such as Tracey Emin, explores the reclaiming and interrogation of sexual identity. Spellbound  begins with Louise Bourgeois’ practice to trace how Freudian psychology informed female artistic discourse. Domestic Disturbances  deals with the interrelation of family life, respectability and career success. History Lessons , featuring artists such as Teresa Margolles and examines how artists respond to current political manifestations of female subjugation.

A comprehensive study of the progress of feminist art, The Reckoning proposes a nuanced, clear-headed argument for the enormous influence female artists have had, and continue to have.

Regina Papachlimitzou