Women in the film are very unsupportive of Artemisia. The first male gaze of her work, her father's , is highly affirmative. Artemisia's stepmother is also unpportive when Artemisia puts up her studio outside, and the stepmother slaps her when she asks if she can draw the rich merchant's son in the nude. Orazio also protects Artmisia from the lewd remarks made by the two students at the academy after he sees and hears Artemisia slap one on the face. More aggressively, he grabs one by his balls.

Notice that the font used for Artemisia, the title, which appears on the screen as if a written signature (see also Shakespeare in Love for a similar moment) is also used to write the names of the cast, producers, director, etc. Artemisia is both writer and written.