Painting in the Feminine: Women in the Mexican Art System, 1846-1940. Homage to Leonor Cortina

This exhibition at the MNSC explores the vital yet often overlooked role of women within the Mexican artistic system between 1846 and 1940. Through paintings, documents, and archival materials, it charts the trajectories of female artists who navigated — and shaped — the institutions, academies, and cultural networks of their time.

The show pays special homage to Leonor Cortina, whose pioneering research brought many of these figures back into the historical record. Together, the works on view offer a rich and nuanced portrait of feminine creativity in Mexico across nearly a century of social and artistic transformation.