Maria Sanz Taus

(Universitat Jaume 1, Spain) June-July 2024 – Referente UniCa: Prof.ssa Elisabetta Gola

This investigation aims to analyze the metaphorical manifestations related to the theme of women’s empowerment through the analysis of a series of pictorial works by contemporary artists born in Spain.  Feminism has become especially relevant in all social spheres, particularly in creative, cultural, and artistic manifestations (Reckitt, 2001). Indeed, art has been used as a visible platform for women to express their identity, contributing to strengthening female empowerment. This identity is manifested symbolically on many occasions through the use of metaphors (Mayayo, 2003). From a cognitive linguistics perspective, we intend to explore a series of metaphors related to women through the analysis of the selected artworks using VISMIP (a procedure for identifying metaphors in still images (Sorm & Steen, 2018). We illustrate how visual metaphor operates as a key element in the artists’ creative process and functions as a bridge of artistic expression and communication between artists and the public.