Marica Marcus, the groundbreaking mixed media painter, passed away last night. She was 97, born the same year as her dear friend, my father. She had an amazing life. This is a repost in her honor.
Whenever I read about your mother, I think about mine. She went to Brown and RISD in the 50s, was Phi Beta Kappa and then....got married and had 4 children. She was a watercolor painter with great skills. She was so angry in the 70s during the height of the women's movement and would often ruefully quote the disgust one of her Art History professors expressed when he asked about her ambitions and she said, "to get married and have kids."
When I saw the movie, "Mona Lisa Smile" it seemed all about my mother--smart talented young women who got great grades and succeeded wildly at school but weren't taught to think for themselves, just taught to achieve through their husbands. And when you write here about those women who WERE able to push passed the patriarchal messages of the culture and believe in themselves and their work, (like Marica Marcus) it's kind of heartbreaking really. And even those women who did succeed were discriminated against in a macho art environment.
Startling painting, Eliza. Very rich. Reminds me of a Klimt at a distance. You‘ve known such interesting artists (including your parents, of course!). It must be fascinating to know more about Marcia now than you ever did as a child. I feel like these discoveries are like magic eye pictures that gradually come into focus.
Lovely to reread in honor of Marica Marcus.
I’m sorry to hear of this loss, your loss. I remember this post well and the impact of Marcia’s art, which I hadn’t known. What a legacy—
Whenever I read about your mother, I think about mine. She went to Brown and RISD in the 50s, was Phi Beta Kappa and then....got married and had 4 children. She was a watercolor painter with great skills. She was so angry in the 70s during the height of the women's movement and would often ruefully quote the disgust one of her Art History professors expressed when he asked about her ambitions and she said, "to get married and have kids."
When I saw the movie, "Mona Lisa Smile" it seemed all about my mother--smart talented young women who got great grades and succeeded wildly at school but weren't taught to think for themselves, just taught to achieve through their husbands. And when you write here about those women who WERE able to push passed the patriarchal messages of the culture and believe in themselves and their work, (like Marica Marcus) it's kind of heartbreaking really. And even those women who did succeed were discriminated against in a macho art environment.
Thank you, Sarah. These legacies are stitched through us. I wish it were getting better
We are saving histories in our little corners here.
Yes!
Startling painting, Eliza. Very rich. Reminds me of a Klimt at a distance. You‘ve known such interesting artists (including your parents, of course!). It must be fascinating to know more about Marcia now than you ever did as a child. I feel like these discoveries are like magic eye pictures that gradually come into focus.
Yes to Marcia and Klimt .. both occasionally gilded works, too, I think.
Gorgeous writing as usual!