This thesis explores the relationship between women, nature, and societal norms through the artworks of Berthe Morisot and Ana Mendieta. By analyzing how these artists from different eras and cultures incorporated nature into their works, the study reveals the symbolic meanings and socio-political critiques within their art. Morisot, an Impressionist in 19th-century France, used nature to contrast the confinement of domestic life with the freedom of the outdoors, subtly critiquing societal limitations on women. Mendieta, a 20th-century Conceptual Artist, employed her body and natural elements to reclaim feminine power, portraying nature as a source of identity and resistance against patriarchy. The thesis situates these practices within their socio-political contexts, highlighting the evolving challenges and opportunities for women in art. It examines the persistent dualism of nature and culture, often gendered as female and male, and critiques the depiction and creation of women’s art using feminist theory.
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