Blood Water Paint

"And listen to me, love. When a woman risks her place, her very life to speak a truth the world despises? Believe her. Always."As a lover of art history, as a teacher, as an artist, and as a woman, I loved this book. I long for, and so rarely find, books that tell the stories of art, of artists, as creative non-fiction. This definitely fit the bill, and was an easy and quick read.It tells the story of 17 year old Artemisia Gentileschi, an "apprentice" artist at a time when women did not become such, her apprenticeship mostly a screen for her father to take credit for her work. Although it takes place over 500 years ago, it could have happened yesterday, or happen still next week, and but for a few 17th century Roman details we wouldn't know the difference. This story is told two-fold: as the biblical stories of two women that were the bases for two of Artemisia's more famous paintings told by her mother and written in prose, and as Artemisia lives and tells her own story in beautifully written free verse. The storytelling is exquisite and the story itself terrifying and infuriating and beautiful and sad.What I want you to know is this: Artemisia Gentileschi is known now for the event(s) described in this book. Maybe if not for it, we wouldn't even know this woman or her work so it is hard to separate the Artist from the victim. That being said, regardless, she isn't only to be studied by art historians because she was one of the finest (and only) female artists recognized at the time, but because she is one of the finest artists of her time, and possibly ours.As a sometimes art history teacher, I introduce Judith and Artemisia on day one in my class. When I teach her, I introduce the story of Judith and Holofernes first. There are many depictions of this story throughout history, and I show several different works to illustrate the time periods and styles through this single subject (maybe 7 art works). My students do the standard compare and contrast, try to identify the style, try to organize them chronologically, etc etc. The last thing I ask is "Which of these was painted by a woman?" They have five minutes to think about it, write down their answer, and defend it with their why. When we share the responses, it is always so interesting to see how the students choose. Let's break down our assumptions and biases on day one, and take the time to really see the art.I ask you, as you read, or after... Look at all the Susannas that were painted, and all the different Judiths. The great and powerful and talented men who painted these women, and then look at Artemisia Gentileschis."I will show you what a woman can do."

Blood Water Paint is the most compelling book I have read so far this year. Even though I already knew many of the facts of Artemisia Gentileschi's life, I still had the experience of feeling genuine horror and disappointment as I read about how her interactions with Agostino, her painting instructor, turn out. (On that note, this book is incredibly timely to the #metoo movement.) However, this book also portrays a lot of fortitude and the sense of purpose that can come from pursuing a passion (in this case, painting).Mostly I am leaving this review to encourage people like me, who mostly read adult literary fiction, to pick up this book, which is technically YA. This holds especially true for those who enjoyed Max Porter's Grief Is This Thing With Feathers and books by Ali Smith (especially How To Be Both). I also think those who like Anne Carson would enjoy Blood Water Paint.There's some real formal inventiveness, as the novel shifts between Artemisia's POV (written in verse) and her mother's POV, told in prose.(Interesting side note: The mother is dead during the events in the novel and these sections purport to be the mother telling Artemisia important stories about Judith and Susanna, both of whom Artemisia will eventually paint, and what it means to be a woman in general, before she died. But I think it's equally possible to suggest that this POV could represent Artemisia re-voicing her mother, in order to comfort herself, to explain to herself the events that are transpiring around her.)Blood Water Paint is also quite inventive in how the author, Joy McCullough, weaves the voices of Judith and Susanna into the verse sections that represent Artemisia's POV. I would give this book 10 stars if I could and will definitely read it again.

This is a book that can be uncomfortable to read. It's one that deals with heavy and heartbreaking topics but it's real, devastatingly beautiful and raw and punches you in the gut.I feel like this is such an important and beautiful book and Artemisia's story was so well done, along with weaving the story of Susanna and Judith and her own together. Woman all with different kinds of strength, but overflowing strength nonetheless.

I've always loved history and historical fiction, but never has a book evoked such a powerful emotional resonance of what it was like to exist back in those times, especially for a woman. The stories Artemisia is told and tells are haunting and empowering and relevant today. A truly incredible feat of writing, allowing a story that seems so far off to hit me and connect me to a universal female experience. Plus, I loved having stories and emotion behind the incredible paintings Artemisia painted. Like, I was thrown electrifying feels AND learned something?I wish I'd read this in high school when we had to learn about the Renaissance. I hope one day it is.

BLOOD WATER PAINT is one of those stories that grabs ahold of you and doesn't let go. I already know it's going to be one of those books I'll come back to again and again, the kind that you hold onto and let the words and truths wash over you, because this book, a historical account of Artemisia's rape and subsequent trial--but more importantly her strength and the power one's voice has--is an important one, written in a manner that is both beautiful and accessible. The verse format allows for maximum emotional impact, but it gives the space we need to process the horrors. Artemisia's story is one I wasn't familiar with but now it's one that I couldn't imagine not knowing. I'm telling everyone I know--you NEED to read this book!

Fabulous account of an incredible woman and artist who defied social and artistic expectations of the time and I'm amazed I have never been aware of her existence until I read reviews of this book!I was totally hooked and read it cover to cover in one go. I was a bit unsure about the story being written in verse but found it a very enjoyable way to read when I got into it and I found it made me pace my reading slower than I would normally and created a rhythm, in fact reading the story in prose which interspersed with the verse I found less satisfying although still very enjoyable.

Those men.These women who dareto judgeyour heartby your bodywill never havean ounce of your worth.Okay, okay, hear me out: a feminist young adult historical novel written in verse. About a female painter who wins a trial against her rapist - in 1612.This is the story of Artemisia Gentileschi, a young woman living in Rome with her family. Her father sells paintings signed with his name, even though it is Artemisia who does all the work. Her mother, long dead now, once told her goodnight-stories of strong women trying to survive in the world of men. Today she finds solace in these tales. When a handsome young artist comes into her home and promises to take her under his wing and free her from her malicious father, Artemisia falls in love with him - until he does not take a no for a no.Now Artemisia faces a trial: she may loose the only thing she has left - her ability to paint - and no one might ever believe her. But with the help of the women from her mother's stories, she fights for truth and justice.This was such a powerful and intense read. The first time I fell in love with this book was when I saw the cover, the second time when I read the first page. Most of this book is written in verse; hoewever, there are a few chapters in usual, written form: the stories of Judith and Susanna. We see the hardships and choices these three women have to face and they are all equally terrifying and captivating.What I love even more than a well-written young adult novel are books that talk about inequality and injustice; books that teach young readers that, even though all humans are equal, women continue to be overlooked and surpressed. These books point out the injustice done to girls and women around the world while they educate and empower their readers to do better, to make their voices heard, and to fight for the respect they deserve. Books like The Female of the Species, Asking for It and Blood Water Paint are rare but so very important and I will keep talking about them until everybody has read them.

Loved everything about this book. The style, the content and the story.

Excellent reading.

This is just a glorified poetry book and doesn't actually have any "traditional" writing in it, it's actually just a series of poems following on from one another.If that's you're thing, that's completely fine, but don't buy it expecting a normal written story like I did.