---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The element of heroic maleness had always…"
description: "\"The element of heroic maleness had always been present in the concept of the artist as one who rides the winged horse above the clouds beyond the sight..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc0/germaine-greer-1521_above-the-clouds_the-element-of-heroic-maleness-had-alway_1989443.jpg"
---

#  The element of heroic maleness had always been present in…

![“The element of heroic maleness had always been present in the concept of the artist as one who rides the winged horse above the clouds beyond the sight of lesser men, a concept seldom applied to those who worked with colours until the nineteenth century. When the inevitable question is asked, &quot;Why…” quote by Germaine Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc0/germaine-greer-1521_above-the-clouds_the-element-of-heroic-maleness-had-alway_1989443.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc0/germaine-greer-1521_above-the-clouds_the-element-of-heroic-maleness-had-alway_1989443.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc0/germaine-greer-1521_above-the-clouds_the-element-of-heroic-maleness-had-alway_1989443.jpg)

> “The element of heroic maleness had always been present in the concept of the artist as one who rides the winged horse above the clouds beyond the sight of lesser men, a concept seldom applied to those who worked with colours until the nineteenth century. When the inevitable question is asked, "Why are there no great women artists?" it is this dimension of art that is implied. The askers know little of art, but they know the seven wonders of the painting world.”

[Germaine Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germaine-greer/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Art historically favored masculine ideals, marginalizing women artists and attributing greatness to a heroic, male archetype.

**In simple terms:** Male heroism excluded women from artistic acclaim.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and value diverse artistic contributions.

Themes

gender bias art history representation masculinity feminism

Mood

critical reflective

Type

analytical historical

When to use this quote

- museum curation
- art education
- gallery representation
- media coverage
- public commissions

Key Concepts

cultural hegemony social constructs visibility

Questions to Reflect On

- How can institutions rewrite art narratives?
- What barriers still limit women artists?

A Different Perspective

The narrative can overlook women who succeeded within those constraints.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

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