Review

Where American Women Artists Found Refuge in Belle Époque Paris

Errika Gerakiti 21 October 2025 min Read

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The Club (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2025) brings to life a glamorous world filled with creativity, friendship, and transformation, where women challenged Paris’s artistic borders and forged their own paths. Jennifer Dasal invites us into their struggles, ambitions, and remarkable stories, shedding light on the enduring legacies they left behind.

What Is the Book About

The Club: Where American Women Artists Found Refuge in Belle Époque Paris tells the stories of women who challenged Paris’s restrictive art world in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Jennifer Dasal focuses on the American Girls’ Club, a sanctuary for ambitious artists who crossed the Atlantic in search of training, opportunity, and recognition. Inside its salons, female artists exchanged ideas and supported each other.

Furthermore, the book shows how these women fought for their place alongside renowned male artists, and many secured their own space in Paris’s most important galleries. The Club reveals their struggles, their growing confidence, and their eventual triumphs in a world that tried to keep them invisible.

Jennifer Dasal The Club: Anne Goldthwaite, 4 Rue de Chevreuse, Paris, 1908. Whitney Museum, New York City, NY, USA. — Anne Goldthwaite, *4 Rue de Chevreuse, Paris*, 1908. Whitney Museum, New York City, NY, USA.

What Makes This Book Stand Out

Jennifer Dasal’s deep background in art history shines throughout the book, enriching every page with expert insight. Her experience as a curator and podcast host helps readers grasp the cultural and historical richness of Belle Époque Paris. Her meticulous research is drawn from letters, archives, and rare documents, making the personal stories feel vivid and authentic. This careful scholarship makes the book both engaging and authoritative.

Moreover, The Club fills a crucial gap in art history by spotlighting women artists often overlooked or forgotten. Dasal’s clear writing invites readers into this hidden world, making complex history accessible and compelling. Together, her expertise and storytelling create a valuable resource for art lovers and historians alike.

Jennifer Dasal The Club: Alice Morgan Wright, Wind Figure, ca. 1916, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA. Art Herstory. — Alice Morgan Wright, *Wind Figure*, ca. 1916, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA. Art Herstory.

Fun Facts About The Club

Jennifer Dasal’s book reveals little-known stories about the American Girls’ Club. Many of these women became pioneers in art and activism, connecting with famous figures like Auguste Rodin and Gertrude Stein. The hardcover includes an eight-page color insert that beautifully showcases artwork and photographs from the era, immersing readers in Belle Époque Paris.

Interestingly, some of the Club’s residents later influenced art movements back in the United States, shaping how American art developed in the 20th century. Dasal’s narrative brings these hidden histories to light, combining scholarly research with engaging storytelling to celebrate a vibrant community of trailblazing women.

Jennifer Dasal The Club: Florence Lundborg in her studio, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, DC, USA. Wikimedia Commons (public domain). — Florence Lundborg in her studio, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, DC, USA. Wikimedia Commons (public domain).

Why You Should Read It

In this book review, Jennifer Dasal’s The Club: Where American Women Artists Found Refuge in Belle Époque Paris stands out as a captivating and important work. Through vivid storytelling and detailed research, the book uncovers a forgotten chapter of art history with courage and creativity. Readers will find inspiration in the lives of women who built community and challenged the art world’s limits. If you value rich history and elegant prose, this book promises to both enlighten and delight.

The Club: Where American Women Artists Found Refuge in Belle Époque Paris by Jennifer Dasal was published by Bloomsbury Publishing. You can get a copy of the book through publisher’s website.

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Errika Gerakiti

I'm Errika Gerakiti, an art writer and curator based in Athens. I write about modern and contemporary art, fashion, and cinema — with a particular interest in the overlooked, the uncomfortable, and the underrepresented. When I'm not writing, I'm curating exhibitions, reading, painting, sculpting, or reading. For longer reads, personal essays, and an occasional science-fiction or horror story, find me on Substack.

ProofreaderLeigh Lowry

Leigh is a writer, reader, art lover, radio nerd and herbalist based in Nashville, TN.