Women of Distinction

While the youthful, idealized female nude captivated artists as far back as ancient Greece, others rejected tradition and turned their attentions to beauty beyond the classical ideal. This exhibition highlights portraits of nine women from the 16th–20th centuries, both in print and photograph, with subjects ranging from young to mature, from humble to affluent, from famous to nameless. All are linked by the emphasis on the subject’s remarkable character, imparting the beauty reflected in their strength, wisdom, and life experience.