Art historian and scholar Allison Leigh spoke on the topic of misogyny in art to students in women’s & gender studies and art history & visual culture classes Sept. 29, 2026.
Leigh, who’s written two art history books, is an associate professor at University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Her keystone lecture, “Painting Against Women: Misogyny, Modern Art, and the Impacts of Sexist Oppression, Then and Now,” sparked discussions about how women have traditionally been portrayed in art by male painters like Edgar Degas and Pablo Picasso.
Viewing modern art through a feminist lens invites observers to consider how gender representations, including masculinity and femininity, have historically been perceived by both the general public and scholars. Leigh’s talk at the Denison Museum was attended by campus faculty, staff, and students.
Students from associate professor Clare Jen’s Feminist Theory course were given advanced access to Leigh’s chapter on Degas. In class, they discussed the importance of critically evaluating Degas’ life and artistic process with respect to how he portrayed women and how his work was viewed.
Leigh’s new book, The Misogynists: A Reckoning with Modern Art, will be available starting Nov. 10, 2026.
Her visit was made possible by the Laura C. Harris Series, Denison Museum, Women’s & Gender Studies program, and the Art History & Visual Culture program.
