Falling 2004

Ruby Osorio made "Falling," a watercolor on paper, sometime around the turn of the 21st century. The figure depicted falling through space raises questions about cultural narratives around women. Is this a fallen woman in the biblical sense? Or is Osorio reflecting on the economic position of women in contemporary society, still falling behind men? The image creates meaning through the familiar visual code of a woman in a dress, a cultural reference to vulnerability. This was made in the USA. A modern, developed nation, but one in which women still face considerable social and economic challenges. As a feminist artwork, does it critique the institutions of art, which have historically marginalized women artists? As historians, we interpret art by researching the social and institutional context in which it was made. Understanding art requires us to consider how social forces shape artistic production and how art, in turn, can challenge existing social norms.