Think of a Chinese painter and it is likely you are thinking of a man. The world of Chinese art is generally believed to have been dominated by prolific males. But there are some brilliantly accomplished female painters, past and present, who are well worth a special look back in history, or who are essential to grasping the unique contributions of women to contemporary art. Their life stories and their paintings are a reflection of the conditions experienced by their gender throughout Chinese history, and in the current heady times.