THE WOMAN QUESTION 1550—2025

The Woman Question 1550–2025 surveys five centuries of art, exploring how gender, power, and agency have intersected throughout history.

The exhibition and the richly illustrated catalog challenge the notion that before the twentieth century women artists were rare exceptions. Despite social barriers, they have consistently exercised creative agency, shaping art history and asserting their vital presence and experiences.

Contributors include feminist art historian Griselda Pollock, Nobel prize-winning novelist Olga Tokarczuk, philosopher Chiara Bottici, anthropologist Ewa Klekot, and the exhibition curator Alison M. Gingeras, along with notes by distinguished art scholars and curators discussing the works of ninety-four artists.

THE WOMAN QUESTION 1550–2025

Edited by: Alison M. Gingeras

Contributors: Chiara Bottici, Alison M. Gingeras, Antonina Gugała, Kateryna Iakovlenko, Ewa Klekot, Ewa Kociszewska, Karolina Majewska-Güde, Dorota Jagoda Michalska, Griselda Pollock, Beata Purc, Michalina Sablik, Agnieszka Tarasiuk, Matylda Taszycka, Olga Tokarczuk, Katarzyna Ewa Trzeciak, Andrzej Wajs

Managing editor: Łukasz Mojsak

Editing: Daniel Malone, Łukasz Mojsak

Proofreading and index: Katarzyna Głowińska, Lingventa

Translation: Łukasz Mojsak, Simon Wloch

Image acquisition: Małgorzata Chmiel

Design concept: Ludovic Balland Typography Cabinet, Basel

Design layout and typesetting: Ludovic Balland Typography Cabinet, Basel

with Jeanne La Belle

Typeface: Qwerty © Ludovic Balland

Typesetting: 

Ludovic Balland Typography Cabinet, Basel

Maria Bukowska, Studio Temperówka

Design and printing collaboration: Gosia Stolińska, Katarzyna Szotkowska-Beylin

Prepress and lithography: Krzysztof Krzysztofiak

Cover photographs: 

Lisa Brice, Untitled (After Vallotton), 2023,

Nixon Collection, photo: Charle Duprat 

Sofonisba Anguissola, Self Portrait at the Easel, 1554–1556, Castle Museum in Łańcut