There's no arguing with Rainbows. A rainbow is a fact of life. Pots of gold, Judy Garland, magic, and wonder are all encapsulated in the image of the rainbow. They recall childhood memories, folklore, and middle school science, while holding a firm place in legend due to their beauty and the impossibility of explaining the phenomenon.

In the face of such forceful female imagery in the work of the graduate women artists I teach, I’ve had to wonder if there isn’t a renewed discussion hovering around the subject of feminism. Cynically I think, “Here we go again.”

I am a painter. I am also a professor in an MFA program where I hold seminars in which I talk to students about their work. I have done this for many years, and like many artists who teach, I sometimes rage against my role...