Photo: Artemisia Gentileschi (self-portrait), Public domain — Source
Italian Baroque painter and the first woman accepted into Florence's Accademia di Arti del Disegno. Working in a male-dominated field in the 17th century, she became one of the most accomplished painters of her generation, known for powerful depictions of biblical and mythological women. Her most famous painting, 'Judith Slaying Holofernes,' is read through the lens of her own experience — she was raped by her tutor Agostino Tassi at age 17 and endured a humiliating public trial. Her technical mastery of Caravaggist chiaroscuro and her unflinching portrayals of female strength have made her a feminist art icon.
Source: National Gallery, London