Although International Women's Day has passed, the ongoing struggle for gender equality remains a pressing issue throughout the year. One area where this challenge is particularly evident is in the realm of art history, where women have long been marginalized within institutional narratives. This week, Julia Curl delves into a book that brings attention to the overlooked contributions of Austrian-American photographer Lisette Model, who faced FBI scrutiny during the Red Scare—a period that impacted many leftist Jewish refugees. Explore the reading list below for more insights.
— Lakshmi Rivera Amin, Associate Editor
From Our Critics
The Jazz Pictures the FBI Silenced
Fearing for her safety, Lisette Model concealed her photographs of prominent artists such as Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong, but a newly published work now brings these images to light. | Julia Curl
Lisette Model: The Jazz Pictures (2025), featuring photographs by Model and essays by Audrey Sands, Langston Hughes, and other contributors
Summer Creative Writing Institute at the American University of Paris
Let Paris inspire you this summer and come join us at AUP’s Summer Creative Writing Institute. With workshops on poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, students can work deeply on issues of craft, all while enjoying the City of Light.
Women’s Day Every Day
Women and Spiritualism in Art
In The Other Side, Jennifer Higgie highlights both renowned and lesser-known female artists whose works intersected with spiritual and occult themes. | AX Mina
The Other Side: A Story of Women in Art and the Spirit World (2024) by Jennifer Higgie
Remembering the Women of the Black Panther Party
Comrade Sisters showcases photographs and personal narratives of the women who comprised more than two-thirds of the party's membership. | Taylor Michael
Comrade Sisters: Women of the Black Panther Party (2022), featuring photographs by Stephen Shames and text by Ericka Huggins
More From the Archive
Doris Derby’s Searing, Intimate Photos of the Civil Rights Movement
A new publication presents over 110 images from Derby’s archive, offering an intimate look at the people and locations central to the movement. | Lauren Moya Ford
A Civil Rights Journey (2021) by Doris Derby
The Anti-Apartheid Photographer Who Was Stranded in America
Ernest Cole’s life story encapsulates an anti-colonial narrative, Cold War intrigue, and a tragic end. | John Edwin Mason
Ernest Cole: The True America (2024) by James Sanders, Leslie M. Wilson, and Raoul Peck