Independent Spirits

Brilliantly illustrated with more than 100 color plates, this book is a rich compendium of Western art by women, including those of American Indian, Mexican, African, and Asian heritage. The essays examine economic, social, and political forces that shaped this art over years of profound change. The dynamic growth of the West altered the role of women and opened new opportunities within the dominant culture, beginning in the late nineteenth century. In contrast to the East, the West was less constrained by tradition and social hierarchy: Western women had more freedom than their Eastern…