"The Tate Collection houses work by over 250 women artists spanning five centuries. In this celebration of women's creative endeavor, Alicia Foster explores the achievement of these artists. Those included range from the famous to the little known, from Mary Beale to Tracy Emin, from Eileen Agar to Rachel Whiteread." "In four chronological introductory essays Alicia Foster discusses the changes in the position of women artists from the eventeenth century, when they were restricted in their choice of subject matter and medium and achieved little recognition, to the present-day art world, which encompasses an array of women painters, sculptors, conceptual artists, and video and film-makers. The author brings the latest critical analysis to bear on women's art, introducing the major developments in its history, its interpretation and reception."--Jacket.