Comment | Time for a rethink: women artists were never meant to merely be canon fodder

The art world is increasingly moving beyond simply adding women to the existing art historical canon, a practice long criticized by feminist historians like Griselda Pollock. Instead of merely 'expanding' the canon, new institutional approaches aim to 'difference' it by using the work of women to fundamentally re-evaluate and subvert established narratives. This shift suggests that the inclusion of previously marginalized artists should change how we perceive the masters they are often compared to.

Two upcoming European exhibitions exemplify this trend by pairing the canonical Edvard Munch with Paula Modersohn-Becker and Maria Lassnig. These shows at the Albertinum in Dresden and the Hamburger Kunsthalle move away from traditional 'influence' studies, instead positioning the women artists as intellectual equals whose radical perspectives on the body and existence offer fresh ways to read Munch’s own legacy. This evolution reflects a deeper commitment to restructuring art history rather than just diversifying museum walls.