An accessible, informative yet compact reappraisal of the position and work of women artists from the Middle Ages to the present. It examines the way their work has been perceived in the history of art - often in direct reference to gender - and re-examines the works themselves. A new chapter - with 30 new illustrations - brings the volume right up to date in light of the most recent developments in contemporary art. It considers the prevailing globalization in the visual arts, focusing in particular on the many major international exhibitions since 1990 that have become an important arena for women artists from around the world.