The Story of Art Without Men by Katy Hessel: A New Canon

Benedetta Cappa Marinetti, Speeding Motor Boat, 1923-4 (artwork from the book).

For decades, art history books told us a very edited version of the story: “great masters,” mostly male, mostly European. The Story of Art Without Men by Katy Hessel flips that script and builds a new one, one where women and overlooked artists finally take center stage.

The book spans from the Renaissance to now, spotlighting artists who not only existed but radically innovated. Think Sofonisba Anguissola and Artemisia Gentileschi, who fought for recognition in their time. Or Hilma af Klint, Louise Bourgeois, and Zanele Muholi, whose work reshaped modern and contemporary art.

Hessel’s point is clear: these artists weren’t exceptions. They were always there, but erased by museums, critics, and institutions that built exclusionary narratives. Her goal isn’t to swap one canon for another, but to expand it: to make it bigger, louder, and more diverse.

For younger generations, the book is both a mirror and a fuel. It’s proof that the history of art has always been plural, and inspiration to keep pushing for a future where all voices are visible.

The Story of Art Without Men isn’t just a history lesson. It’s a call to action: to reimagine art history itself and to make sure the next chapter isn’t written in absence.