Abstraction c. 20th century

Editor: This is Jeanne Coppel’s Abstraction, housed here at Harvard. It's an oil painting, and I’m immediately struck by its bold shapes. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It vibrates with a fierce negotiation of space and identity. The monochrome palette pushes us to consider the legacy of abstract expressionism. Where does Coppel fit in that narrative as a woman artist perhaps excluded from broader recognition? Editor: Excluded, how so? Curator: Consider the historical context. Abstract Expressionism, while seemingly universal, was often dominated by male figures. What were the challenges for women navigating that artistic terrain? Editor: So, the painting is not just an abstraction, but a statement? Curator: Precisely. It invites us to question whose voices and experiences are valued within art history. The bold brushstrokes feel like a defiant assertion of presence. Editor: That gives me a lot to think about, thank you. Curator: It's in these dialogues that art history truly comes alive.