Painters

/ˈpeɪntərz/ noun

Definition

People whose job is to apply paint to walls, buildings, or to create art on canvas.

Etymology

From Old French 'paintres' (one who paints), derived from 'peindre' (to paint), which comes from Latin 'pingere' (to paint, color). The -er suffix indicates the person performing the action.

Kelly Says

Medieval painters were so valued that they formed guilds to protect their secrets and maintain quality standards—paintings were expensive luxury items that only the wealthy could afford, making artists more like engineers than artists as we think of them today.

Ethical Language Guidance

Gender History

Art history canon male-dominated; women painters systematically excluded, misattributed, or their work credited to husbands/fathers. 'Painter' default assumed male for centuries.

Inclusive Usage

Use 'painters' inclusively; actively include women painters (Artemisia Gentileschi, Berthe Morisot, Hilma af Klint) in artistic discussions and lists.

Empowerment Note

Women painters shaped art history profoundly despite erasure—Artemisia, Morisot, Cassatt, Käthe Kollwitz and countless others fought for recognition and left revolutionary work.

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