The Forgotten Artists: Women’s Contributions to Prehistoric Art—An Historical Overview

For decades, literature and illustrations have credited men with the creation of prehistoric art, overlooking women’s potential and skills as artists and audiences. This exclusion persisted despite the lack of conclusive evidence regarding the identity, sex, gender or age of prehistoric artists, as there are no written records or signed works. In the absence of solid evidence, texts and illustrations perpetuated gender biases, presenting a male-centered narrative of prehistoric art history.Although early discoveries of European prehistoric art (both Paleolithic and Levantine art), featured female figures, this did not challenge the exclusion of women as artists. Instead, the emphasis on naked female figures with exaggerated sexual attributes reinforced the idea that they were merely symbols of fertility (as mothers) or sexual desire, perpetuating the notion of women as passive subjects or muses for male artists. This view persisted through much of the 20th century.Since the 1970’s, feminist archaeology has demanded recognition of the historically overlooked contributions of women in prehistory. This paved the way for more recent calls to reconsider their historical exclusion from artistic creation. Today, while some interpretations still perpetuate old prejudices, the increased presence of women in academia is reshaping the history of prehistoric art. New hypotheses and research methods, focusing on those historically overlooked -women, children and others- are now highlighting a plurality of artists.Biometric studies of hands and fingerprints, new interpretations of female representations in prehistoric art, and demands for the primary use of objective, unbiased parameters -such as sexual attributes rather than clothing, weapons, or activities- as sex indicators when interpreting the art, help to avoid the pitfalls of gender assumptions. Together with other evidence in the archaeological context, these efforts are fostering a more inclusive understanding of the cultural and artistic legacy of prehistory.Ongoing research and inclusive museum displays, such as these, are essential to continue rewriting women's history as forgotten artists.