"To (Un)dress: Clothes, Women and Feminist Ideology in Modern Art"

Clothes carry inherent implications and can be used for examining sociological, psychological and even philosophical questions. They serve as a barometer of change in society and are related to issues of gender, race, sexual orientation, etc. Starting with the end of 19th century, during which the modern feminist movement was first established in the West, seminal art works done by women artists will be discussed. From the "First wave feminism" to the "Third wave feminism", feminist theory, politics and activism have fundamentally changed, giving rise to many various voices and formulations, such as multiculturalism and gender fluidity. The paper will demonstrate the ways in which women artists made use of the theme of clothes in order to raise questions regarding gender and social status of women in society.