More Than A Muse

More about the book

How many times have you seen a woman artist solely referred to as the wife, girlfriend, or 'mistress' of a man in the public eye?Throughout history, the talent of women working across artistic disciplines - from visual artists to writers to filmmakers - has been largely undervalued, with the title of 'genius' reserved mainly for men.More than a Muse unpacks the complex romantic relationships that left women overshadowed, anonymous or underestimated in their work. Katie McCabe shines a light on the women who deserved credit in their time, revealing the true stories of talents like Dora Maar (the photographer, painter and writer who was reduced to the role of 'Picasso's lover') and Alma Reville (the backseat director of Hitchcock's films). By exploring a broad scope of art movements and artists (from surrealism to silent film), she moves past the well-worn narratives in order to give wronged female creatives the credit they deserve. Delve into the stories of sculptor Camille Claudel, playwright and civil rights activist Shirley Graham Du Bois, painter Jo Hopper, jazz pianist Lil Hardin Armstrong and photographer Lucia Moholy.More than a Muse re-examines our history through the lens of artistic partnership, and locates women solidly in the foreground.