A Fascinating and Eye-Opening Read on a Forgotten Modernist
Reviews: Marlow Moss (Modern Women Artists) by Lucy Howarth
As someone who loves art and is always eager to learn about artists beyond the usual canon, I find Lucy Howarth’s Marlow Moss (Modern Women Artists) fascinating. I had heard of Piet Mondrian and the De Stijl movement, but I had no idea how influential Marlow Moss was in shaping geometric abstraction. This book completely changed my perspective on modernist art and the overlooked role of women in its development.
Howarth does an excellent job of bringing Moss’s life and work to light. The book is well-researched and provides a compelling narrative of an artist who challenged artistic conventions and defied societal norms. I was particularly struck by Moss’s introduction of the double line—a technique Mondrian later adopted—which made me realize how often women’s contributions have been downplayed or erased from history.
What I appreciated most was how accessible and engaging the writing was. While it’s clear that Howarth is a scholar, she doesn’t overwhelm the reader with overly technical analysis. Instead, she presents Moss’s work in a way that makes you appreciate its significance, even if you’re not an art historian. The book is also beautifully illustrated with images of Moss’s paintings and sculptures, making it easy to see her unique vision and how it evolved.
Reading this book left me inspired but also frustrated at how little recognition Moss has received compared to her male counterparts. I wondered how many other women artists have been similarly overlooked. Marlow Moss (Modern Women Artists) is an important and necessary book, not just for those interested in modern art but for anyone who wants to understand the full story of art history.
I highly recommend this book to art lovers, students, and anyone who enjoys discovering hidden stories. It’s a must-read for those who appreciate modernism and want to explore beyond the usual names. Marlow Moss deserves to be known, and thanks to this book, she finally gets the attention she has long been denied.
- Publisher : Eiderdown Books (September 9, 2019)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 64 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1916041620
- ISBN-13 : 978-1916041622
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Dimensions : 5.08 x 0.43 x 7.8 inches
