Fotoreproductie van een gravure van een portret van Ictinus, Apelles en Phidias, geflankeerd door allegorieën op de gotische, Griekse, Romeinse en Renaissance-kunst before 1858

Gustav Schauer made this photogravure reproduction of an engraving depicting Ictinus, Apelles, and Phidias, surrounded by allegories of Gothic, Greek, Roman, and Renaissance art in the 19th century. Consider the hierarchy embedded in this composition, where male artists are enthroned above female allegorical figures. It reflects the historical exclusion of women from recognized artistic roles, relegating them to the realm of representation rather than creation. The image can be seen as a commentary on the prevailing patriarchal structures within the art world of Schauer's time. It invites reflection on how art history has been shaped by gendered narratives. The choice to depict women as allegorical figures, almost as muses for male genius, reinforces traditional roles and expectations. This contrast invites us to question the narratives we inherit and to consider the untold stories of artists whose identities have been marginalized throughout history.