Once he begins to look, Mullins finds misogyny in nearly every prominent artist of the Western world. The book is organized chronologically within each chapter, with a chapter for each major topic. These include "Wise and Foolish Virgins", "Man-Eaters", "Clothes-Pegs" and "Mothers and Heroines." Nearly all the major artists within the Canon are reviewed, from Fra Angelico to Picasso. Fear and loathing of female sexuality, proprietory interest in women as objects of status, or women as objects of desire or scorn are found in nearly every example. The final chapter, "In Love and Laughter," is devoted to artists that Mullins perceives as portraying women in a loving and respectful way. They include Rembrandt, Goya and Toulouse-Lautrec.

The book is Illustrated by 120 black and white photos and 23 color reproductions. Many of the themes are painted by more than one artist. For example , there are three examples of the myth of Danae, seduced by Zeus in the form of a shower of gold.

Mullins forces readers to reappraise their reactions to these works in terms of what they are actually telling us to feel about the women who are their subjects. How are we to react appropriately to a scene of rape if the victims are painted as objects of desire for the viewer as well as for the rapist? Especially if the rapists are heroicly armored and the victims are coyly nude, with expressions that suggest their resistance is merely token. What do learn from art about women in general if the only women presented as wholely admirable are unapproachable virgins or desexualized mothers?

This book should, I think, be part of any art history curriculum.

סיור מרתק ביצירות המופת של הציור המערבי במטרה לראות כיצד האומנות (הגברית) משקפת את דמות האשה. האשה מתוארת לרוב כסטריאוטיפ - בתולה או זונה, קולב בגדים או אם. היחס הקשה לאשה נובע אולי מהפחדים המיניים של הגבר מפניה. היו אמנם מעטים כמו רמברנדט, וטו, גויה, לוטרק שהצליחו להציג דמויות אמיתיות של נשים שמעוררות אהדה ולא בוז או אימה. כתוב מצוין עם הבנה רבה לפסיכולוגיה שמאחורי התמונה. ( )