International Women’s Day is a moment to appreciate the voices, ideas, and creativity women bring into the world – including the ones that changed the course of art history. Some of the most powerful strokes ever painted belonged to women who refused to remain in the background. Artists who challenged expectations, shaped movements, and redefined what art could be.

Today, many of these works can live beyond museums and textbooks. Through InkPoster, art can become part of everyday space — quietly present, changing the atmosphere of a room while preserving the natural look of a printed artwork.

In this article, we explore several pioneering women artists who reshaped painting in their time, along with selected works by female artists available in the InkPoster collection today.

Artworks like these deserve more than occasional admiration in a museum. They deserve to live in the spaces where we spend our time – quietly shaping the atmosphere of everyday life.

InkPoster makes that possible by bringing art into interiors in a natural and unobtrusive way. Its advanced ePaper display reflects ambient light rather than emitting it, creating a soft matte surface that resembles the texture and depth of printed art.

The design is cordless, allowing the artwork to be placed freely within a room without visible cables. And with one-tap art changing through the InkPoster app, the atmosphere of a space can evolve effortlessly – from calm landscapes to expressive portraits or modern compositions.

Instead of choosing a single artwork, the wall itself becomes a dynamic canvas where different artists and styles can take turns shaping the mood of the room.

Women Who Painted Their Own Path: Five Captivating Self-Portraits

 

 

 

 

Artemisia Gentileschi – Self-Portrait as the Allegory of Painting

Artemisia Gentileschi stands among the most powerful painters of the Italian Baroque and was one of the first women to achieve real professional success in the art world. In this striking self-portrait she depicts herself in the act of painting – representing the very idea of what it means to be an artist. Gentileschi was also the first woman admitted to Florence’s Accademia di Arte del Disegno – an extraordinary achievement at the time.

Available in InkPoster collection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paula Modersohn-Becker – Self-Portrait on the Sixth Wedding Anniversary

Today Paula Modersohn-Becker is regarded as a pioneer of modern art and an early voice of Expressionism. This painting became famous as one of the first nude self-portraits created by a woman. Painted in 1906, it reimagines the traditional self-portrait as something deeply personal and symbolic. Her work helped push painting toward a more emotional and modern visual language.

Available in InkPoster collection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun – Self-Portrait with Straw Hat

Few portrait painters of the 18th century enjoyed success on the scale of Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun. She painted Europe’s aristocracy and became the favored portraitist of Marie Antoinette. Her luminous style captured elegance while revealing the personality of her sitters. At a time when institutional recognition for women was extremely rare, she was admitted to the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture in Paris.

Available in InkPoster collection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Angelica Kauffman – Self-Portrait Hesitating Between Music and Painting

Angelica Kauffman was a founding member of London’s Royal Academy and one of the most celebrated artists of the Neoclassical era. In this symbolic self-portrait she presents herself choosing between two artistic paths – music or painting. The decision depicted in the painting reflects the career she ultimately pursued.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Judith Leyster – Self-Portrait

Judith Leyster was one of the few women to gain recognition as a painter during the Dutch Golden Age. In this lively self-portrait she appears confidently at work, smiling toward the viewer while painting. The scene feels spontaneous and full of energy. For centuries, however, many of her paintings were mistakenly attributed to Frans Hals before her authorship was rediscovered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discover Women Artists in the InkPoster Collection

The InkPoster App brings together thousands of carefully curated artworks. Here we’ve chosen several remarkable masterpieces by outstanding women artists from our collection.

Thérèse Schwartze – Young Italian Woman with ‘Puck’ the Dog

Dutch portraitist Thérèse Schwartze became known for elegant depictions of society figures and an exceptional ability to capture character. In this painting, a young woman is accompanied by a small terrier named Puck. The playful companion brings warmth and intimacy to the portrait, softening its formal elegance.

 

 

 

 

Kate Elizabeth Bunce – Musica

Kate Elizabeth Bunce worked within the circle of the Arts and Crafts movement and was influenced by the rich imagery of the Pre-Raphaelites. In Musica, she transforms the idea of music into a calm allegorical figure surrounded by decorative detail. The painting blends symbolism and ornament with a quiet, reflective mood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mary Tripe – Sheba

Mary Tripe was one of New Zealand’s leading portrait painters in the early twentieth century. In Sheba, she portrays Alison Kirkcaldie dressed as the legendary Queen of Sheba, turning a society portrait into something theatrical and imaginative. The dramatic costume and vivid colors give the painting a strong sense of character and narrative.

 

 

 

 

 

Victoria Dubourg – Narcissus

French artist Victoria Dubourg devoted much of her career to still-life painting, especially flowers and fruit. In Narcissus, soft blossoms are arranged with careful attention to light, texture, and natural form. The composition feels quiet and intimate, inviting the viewer to pause and notice subtle details.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paula Modersohn-Becker – Still Life with Oranges, Bananas, Lemons and Tomato

Paula Modersohn-Becker is now recognized as one of the pioneers of early Expressionism. In this still life she turns simple fruits into a bold and vivid composition. The painting elevates everyday objects while exploring color and form in a distinctly modern way. It reflects the broader shift from traditional realism toward a new artistic language emerging in the early twentieth century.

With InkPoster, these artworks move beyond museum walls and become part of everyday life – quietly bringing history, beauty, and inspiration into the room.

 

 

 

 

*Our blog contains content about art or related to art and is of an informational and entertaining nature. Any mentions of the specific paintings or artists are provided as examples to illustrate the topic of the respective article. Such mentions do not mean that the content mentioned is pre-installed on the InkPoster devices or available in the InkPoster App catalog.