1768-1848
Chinese Artist
Ma Ch'uan's paintings are known for her bold approach with the brush. She was fond of monochrome prefering
grey and black. Her last request was to be buried in a coffin with ink sticks.
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Marie de France
c. 1155-89
French Poetess
Marie was born in France but spent much of her life in England and dedicated her poems to king Henry II.
Her lyrics of love and adventure are filled with drama, and magnificent climaxes.
The 'Lais', her most important work, comprise 14 romantic narratives based on Celtic material.
A landmark in French literature, they influenced a number of later writers.
www link :
Biography
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Mira Bai
1498-1573
India: Poetess
Mira Bai was brought up at the court of her grandfather in the worship of the Hindu god Vishnu.
Married to the prince of Merwar, she became a rebel in poetry and religion.
After her husband's death she became a temple poet and was persecuted because
of her betrayal of caste in caring for the poor.
www link :
Biography
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Lady Nijo
1257-1307 ?
Japanese Writer
Lady Nijo wrote a five-volume autobiography 'Unmasked Words' which dealt with court life, beginning with her first love affair, aged 14, with the emperor. Because she used real names in her writing her work was hidden in the imperial library for over 600 years.
www link :
Biography
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Georgia O'Keefe
1887-1986
American Artist
Georgia O'Keefe was born in Wisconsin, she studied in Chicago at the Art Institute.
She worked first as a commercial artist but soon created her own original style. She visited Europe, Asia and the Pacific Islands settling eventually in Mexico.
She is best known for her precisely painted,
heavily symbolic studies, of flowers, of animals, and of the Mexican desert which are haunting
and mysteriously powerful. Among the greatest contemporary American artists,
she had several retrospective exhibitions after 1963.
www link :
Biography