I really enjoyed learning about art involving females. It is one of those things that I always knew there was a lot of art for females, but I always thought it didn't arrive until later in history. Art for and by women has actually been around since the beginning. The Venus of Willendorff is one of the first pieces of the stone age, and has many different variations over time. I didn't know the purpose behind the fertility statue, or how much it had meant in the time. I really liked learning about the purposes behind Women's art, and how the pieces were made. Seeing the origination of the female figure, and watching it slim down as the view of the "ideal" women change, from a full bodied female to the thin, boney female image of today. It was interesting learning about why the figures were made, and why so many variations were made.
Later on, the figure of the woman is made more for a protection/goddess like figure, instead of as a female fertility. This is because the figures and statues of the female were now for the men in the society, and not for the females any more. I found it interesting that even though the figure of the female was once seen as a figure of fertility for females, soon became to be a figure of worship for males for protection. I liked learning about the different views of females through out history, and the evolution of the thoughts about women. I find it interesting that up until recently, the view of women have been a strong, heroic, protective image. Even though the vision of women now is a weak one, I feel it is important as art historians to keep in mind the previous view of women, and hopefully bring it back someday.
