Vreeland, Susan: 1946-2017

The Passion of Artemisia, 2002 - Thematic Parallels: Creativity

Creativity is the ability to generate ideas, solutions, or expressions that are both original and useful.
Vreeland, Susan: The Passion of Artemisia, 2002
The novel blends fact and fiction to explore themes of female creativity, resilience, justice, and self-expression.
The following books are thematically simliar. They lend themselves well to being read in groups, compared with one another, or used to teach a similar topic over an extended period with a class:
- Angelou, Maya: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, 1969, ~290pp
  This is a biography dealing with trauma, resilience, and the female experience.
  - In both works, creative expression becomes a means of survival, power, and identity. Each woman’s suffering becomes the foundation for her later strength and self-determination. Both narratives emphasize the strength and endurance of women who refuse to be defined by what was done to them.
- Chevalier, Tracy: Girl with a Pearl Earring, 1999, ~250pp
  This is a historical fiction about a female figure in the art world.
  - Both novels explore the intersection of women, art, and power within a patriarchal historical context, using richly imagined narratives to give voice to women connected to (or themselves creators of) major works of art. Each woman sacrifices something vital—Griet sacrifices long-term artistic connection; Artemisia sacrifices relationships and stability for her career and integrity.
- Hoffman, Alice: Blackbird House, 2004, ~220pp
  This novel is rooted in human experience and emotions.
  - Both novels portray women whose identities form through suffering, persistence, and creativity in the face of restrictive circumstances. The novels highlight the possibility of healing after hardship and emphasize the importance of human connection—whether through family, community, or artistic expression.
- McCracken, Elizabeth: The Giant’s House, 1996, ~290pp
  This novel explores unique human experiences in a creative narrative.
  - Both "The Giant’s House" and "The Passion of Artemisia" explore the lives of unconventional women who confront isolation, defy societal expectations, and discover themselves through deep emotional attachments and devotion to a form of art. They share themes of loneliness, creativity, resilience, and the struggle for self-definition in restrictive environments.
List of general discussion questions on Creativity (pdf)
List of essay prompts on Creativity (pdf)