Art critic and writer Jarrett Earnest travels to Warsaw for the opening of "The Woman Question 1550–2025," a major survey of women artists curated by Alison M. Gingeras at the Museum of Modern Art (MSN Warsaw). The exhibition features nearly 200 works spanning from Renaissance to contemporary art, including pieces by Artemisia Gentileschi, Frida Kahlo, Lisa Yuskavage, and many Eastern European artists. Earnest reflects on the enduring theme of the female nude and the political context of Poland, where far-right policies have restricted women's rights.
This article matters because it highlights MSN Warsaw's ambitious programming in its new building and the ongoing relevance of feminist art history. The exhibition challenges the erasure of women from art historical narratives, particularly by including lesser-known Eastern European artists. It also situates the show within Poland's current political climate, where women's bodily autonomy is under threat, making the exhibition's exploration of the female figure both an artistic and political statement.