About the book: 2023 / This book is a social history of the lives of artists of the late 19th century – beginning of the 20th century. Analyzing Russian art, the researchers turn to memoirs and personal documents, as well as self-portraits, which allow us to see how the artists themselves perceived themselves and their position in society. In addition, the book describes in detail the context in which women’s professional development in art took place, and namely the historical transformations of the professional education and social status of the artist. The researchers also analyze such gender aspects as origin, marriage, presence of children, everyday life, etc., which directly influenced the artist’s career. In this book, the history of Russian art appears to the reader from the other – female – side. There are no geniuses, deep mental anguish, great works or achievements in it, but there is a layer of everyday struggle for the right to be an artist, invisible to larger narratives..