Strong, Independent women through history painted from many different cultures. Red for me symbolizes power, which is unique among historical paintings.
Lucca Madonna, Jan van Eyck, 1437, From the collection of: Städel Museum
In this first painting, it depicts a young mother taking care of her infant. I chose this because it's one of the only paintings that I found with a women holding a child.
Portrait of a Young Woman, Formerly Steven van der Meulen, active 1543–1563, Netherlandish, active in Britain (from 1560), naturalized 1562, Unknown artist, sixteenth century, 1567, From the collection of: Yale Center for British Art
In this painting, the woman is playing with the beads on her dress, which is something I would most definitely do. She seems empowered by her broad shoulders.
Martha Temple, Lady Penyston (1595-1620), Cornelius Johnson, 1593–1661, British, 1619, From the collection of: Yale Center for British Art
This painting slightly scares me because the woman being depicted looks like George Washington in the face. This was one of the older paintings that I found with a female having long hair.
Portrait of Hendrickje Stoffels, Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, around 1656, From the collection of: Gemäldegalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Not knowing a lot about this painting, if I had to guess that she was a prostitute judging the lighting and the way that she's posing. There's also something mysterious about her facial expression.
Presumed Portrait of Madame Geoffrin, Marianne Loir, ca. 1750s - ca. 1760s, From the collection of: National Museum of Women in the Arts
I chose this painting specifically because the painter was a woman (not common for the time period) and it's located in the National Museum of Women in the Arts.
Portrait of Marie Leszczyńska, Jean-Marc Nattier (copy), ca. 1750, From the collection of: The Wilanów Palace Museum
When I first saw this painting I thought of Ann-Hathaway and the liberated female movement of the early 1900's. This woman looks like a scholar or at least learned.
Beautiful woman playing with cat, Tsukioka Masanobu Settei, 1770/1779, From the collection of: Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, Stockholm
I wanted to incorporate different cultures, so I added in a Japanese Ink panel of a women wearing a stunning kimono playing with her cat.
Armenian woman, Styrian painter/Štajerski slikar, From the collection of: Pokrajinski muzej Ptuj- Ormož
I loved how this painting had movement in her cloths as if the wind from the outside caught wisp of her dress. Likewise, It's the only piece of art that I chose painted outside for that very reason.
The Loving Cup, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, 1867, From the collection of: The National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo
Women in painting: "Oh, you don't want me to drink this? Well screw you buddy, I'm drinking it."
Portrait of Senyora Anita with Red Dress, Benet Mercadé, 1872, From the collection of: Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya - MNAC, Barcelona
Personally, this woman doesn't look anything higher than middle class. I chose this painting for that reason. You typically don't see women in a portrait unless they have a lot of money to pay for it.
Alice, George Frederic Watts, 1883, From the collection of: Art Gallery of New South Wales
Her side profile is so gorgeous I couldn't pass up adding her to my collection.
Girl in Rose Dress, MORISOT, Berthe, 1888, From the collection of: Tokyo Fuji Art Museum
I added this painting since it's a great example of empressionism. There's not a lot of detail to the girl but you can easily see what's going on with few brush strokes.
Gabrielle in a Red Dress, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, 1908, From the collection of: Harvard Art Museums
The fact that the artist gave the female in this painting enough respect to actually name her is great. Gabrielle, whats a beautiful and suiting name? You know it's good if it's at Harvard Art Museum.
On the Sofa, Edvard Munch, 1913, From the collection of: The Munch Museum, Oslo
The only reason I chose this painting is because I literally do this all the time. I can never sit on a couch like a normal person.
Julia, Ramon Casas Carbó, ca.1915, From the collection of: Museo Carmen Thyssen Málaga
From first glance, I would've guessed this painting to be from the roaring 20's time era. Her outfit and sassy stance suggests a new found type of women in modern age.
A Young Woman in Red, Gennady Myznikov, 1970 - 1970, From the collection of: The Institute of Russian Realist Art (IRRA)
I chose this painting specifically because the girl is happy and smiling, she's genuinely happy, and I love that.
Credits: All media
This user gallery has been created by an independent third party and may not represent the views of the institutions whose collections include the featured works or of Google Arts & Culture.
Art Gallery of New South Wales
Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, Stockholm
National Museum of Women in the Arts
Museo Carmen Thyssen Málaga
Yale Center for British Art
Harvard Art Museums
The Wilanów Palace Museum
Städel Museum
The National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo
Gemäldegalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
The Institute of Russian Realist Art (IRRA)
The Munch Museum, Oslo
Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya - MNAC, Barcelona
Pokrajinski muzej Ptuj- Ormož
Tokyo Fuji Art Museum