The study of art history reveals that, in line with global societal advancements, the presence of women in art fields has grown steadily through time. One of the most significant issues in art history is the absence of women among the world’s greatest historical artists. On the other hand, the significant presence of women in the arts over the past century is a reflection of the difficult circumstances of their existence historically. Due to the historical preponderance of male artists and the growing presence of women in the modern era, there are glaring disparities in the representation of women today compared to the past. Based on intra-civilizational common elements, comparing how women are represented in modern paintings from Iran and Malaysia, located in West and East Asia, reveals some commonalities and differences that help to understand the causes behind women’s absence in the field of art throughout history as well as their presence today.