Throughout art history, the figure of the woman has been highly revered. From the images of Mother Mary, to the idealized images of saints and angels in during the renaissance, the female has been a choice subject for artists. Even though many of the famous modern artists are men, the unsung heroes of Prehistoric to Ancient art have been suggested to be female.
Two examples of this are the Venus of Willendorf from the Paleolithic Era, and the Standing Female Figure from the Aegean Bronze age. These two figures are constructed differently, mean different things, and look different. Yet, they look the same, are positioned the same way, and are made by the same type of people.
The Venus of Willendorf and the Standing Female Figure are both upright, standing looking forward. The figures are nude, with clear, slightly exaggerated pubic area. The arms are resting on their chests, and rounded bellies. Their legs are semi-detailed, with clear distinction at the knee line. Their faces do not have a lot of detail, The Standing Figure has a nose, and the Venus’ hair covers most of her face.
The differences in these sculptures are clear though. The Venus of Willendorf is stout, curvy, exaggerated breasts, and has no feet. She represents fertility, and may also be an indication to males that the female owner is ready to mate. It is said that the figure, and figures like it, were made by pregnant females. The perspective looking down at the body is the same perspective of a pregnant female looking at her own body. This is why the Venus does not have any feet. She is made of limestone, with some of the natural divots and texture as part of the sculpture.
The Standing Figure is tall, skinny, and smooth. It is made of white marble, and its surface is smooth and sleek. Her features are not very defined, and her thin arms rest slightly below her almost nonexistent breasts. Figures like this were found almost exclusively near or in funeral sites, saying that this figure was meant for a burial ceremony; perhaps as a guardian of some sort. She has strict symmetry, and is perfectly measured and sectioned out. Her elongated neck supports her tilted head, looking upward. There are traces of red pigment on the figure, showing us that this figure was once painted. This tells us that there were once eyes on this figure, and was possibly once clothed.
Even though these figures look like they could mean the same thing, and look similar, they are not. They clearly mean different things. One is the representation and the peruse of life, and the other is for protection in death.
