how gender identity is reflected in art

Many artists have used their art to express their ideas and responses about gender identity from the beginning of 1600s. Gender identity is how one individual feels about themself inside and how they express those feelings by the way they move, the way they talk, the way they dress, the way they express themselves and interact with others. In relation to gender identity 'Queer art', which is also known as LGBT+ art or queer aesthetics, broadly refers to modern and contemporary visual art practices that focus on personal sense of one’s own gender such as male, female, gender neutral, agender, two-spirit, third gender, lesbian, gay, bisexual, non-binary, pangender, genderqueer, and transgender+ imagery and all, none or combination of these. Not following any particular style, Queer Art has used different types of arts like sculpture, photography, abstract painting, portraiture and collage to explore the varieties, depths and meanings of queer identity. Get out of all circumstances like political issues and unfair laws in the history, Queer Art has had an important role in subverting repressive gender norms, addressing these issues covertly and overtly, insisting on a voice in the art world and using art as one of the crucial media to encourage one another to be ourselves, accept, love, empower and express ourselves freely without worry. Artworks that have made an impact in exploring gender identity and queer art 1. Sappho and Erinna in a Garden at Mytilene- Simeon Solomon, 1864 Sappho and Erinna in a Garden at Mytilene is an emotional image of female love. The piece was created with the inspiration coming from the fragmented poems written by a woman named Sappho in the 4th century BC, which revealed the truth about her pleading Aphrodite to help her in her same-sex relationship. Sappho’s story points to a longer history of same-sex desire, while a depiction of two people of the same gender kissing would have been completely outlawed. This watercolour painting depicts Sappho embracing her fellow poet Erinna, seated on a bench in a garden at Mytilene on the island of Lesbos. She represents a 'masculine' foil to Erinna's seductive femininity, emphasised by the soft flesh. Their love for each other is emphasised by the pair of doves seated above them, which connotes a high admiration for the true value of unconditional love. 2. We Two Boys Together Clinging- David Hockney, 1961 The painting We Two Boys Together Clinging was made by David Hockney during a time when one had to be careful about openly sharing their sexuality. Hockney described his work as "homosexual propaganda", which was seen as quite daring and fearless at the time. The work depicts two figures embracing each other in the centre of the canvas, kissing as one’s arm encircles the other. We can infer the artist's strong opinion about freedom expression by the use of rough and expressive brush marks, with the combination of warm and cool colours, which creates a sense of drama. The almost child-like technique was introduced to him by a French artist Jean Dubuffet and this abstract style of painting robs the figures' gender identity, facial features to a certain extent. Hockney was noticed as a brave person by showing his view toward genders with the written script around the two bodies: "We two boys together clinging. "