Isabel Bishop: “The Blemish”

In my continued celebration of women artists for Women’s History Month and the #5WomenArtists challenge, I encourage you to view and contemplate the work of the 20th century, American artist Isabel Bishop. Bishop painted women as she observed them, capturing immersive, ordinary moments. Yet there is a wonderful presence that exudes from the canvas! Her oil on board, 1945 painting “The Blemish” illustrates an ordinary, young woman with a tightened face looking into her compact mirror to inspect a blemish. Her finger appears to try to remove or conceal it from her flawless, creamy skin. Bishop employs direct, quick brushstrokes, soft, beige tones; strong, contouring lines of the woman’s face and framing waves of golden hair emphasize female imperfections. Through this private moment, Bishop challenges expectations about the standards of beauty. What young woman hasn’t fretted over a blemish?

I was not familiar with Isabel Bishop and discovered “The Blemish” during a visit at Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts in Springfield, MA. What I connect with Bishop is her engaging way to express and humanize American women through her insightful and perceptive observations; she makes what is ordinary something new and surprising.