Venus Of Willendorf Research Paper
The most famous early image of a human, a woman, is the so-called "Venus" of Willendorf, is a 11.1 cm (4 3/8 inches) high statuette of a female figure, discovered at a Paleolithic site in 1908 at a Aurignacian loess deposit near the town of Willendorf in Austria. It is now in the Naturhistorisches Museum in Vienna. The statue was carved from oolitic limestone, and was colored with red orche. It is dated 30,000 and 25,000 BC.
Her great age and pronounced female forms quickly established the Venus of Willendorf as an icon of prehistoric art. She was soon included in introductory art history textbooks where she quickly displaced other previously used examples of Paleolithic art. Being both female and nude, she fitted perfectly into the patriarchal construction of the history of art. As the earliest known representation, she became the "first woman," acquiring a sort of Ur-Eve identity that focused …show more content…
They are in essence, small Paleolithic figurines of women, and sometimes (but a limited few) of men. The age of the Venus figurines covers a time span from 27,000 years ago, to 20,000 years ago. The Venus figurines have been found carved in stone, ivory and wood, and constructed of clay. The most famous Venus figurine is the "Venus of Willendorf." However, it is only one small portion of the diversity of all the figurines found through out Europe. The sizes and proportions of the Venus figurines vary. The Willendorf figurine, and several others of its type are endowed with large breasts, a large stomach, and swollen thighs, and is obviously pregnant. Other figurines are shown carrying horns (cornucopias) with much the same characteristics of the Willendorf type figurines. Other figurines differ in shape and size, some are thin but obviously pregnant, and other figurines differ in age and are small. Still other figurines have been found with traces of red ochre paint on
Her great age and pronounced female forms quickly established the Venus of Willendorf as an icon of prehistoric art. She was soon included in introductory art history textbooks where she quickly displaced other previously used examples of Paleolithic art. Being both female and nude, she fitted perfectly into the patriarchal construction of the history of art. As the earliest known representation, she became the "first woman," acquiring a sort of Ur-Eve identity that focused …show more content…
They are in essence, small Paleolithic figurines of women, and sometimes (but a limited few) of men. The age of the Venus figurines covers a time span from 27,000 years ago, to 20,000 years ago. The Venus figurines have been found carved in stone, ivory and wood, and constructed of clay. The most famous Venus figurine is the "Venus of Willendorf." However, it is only one small portion of the diversity of all the figurines found through out Europe. The sizes and proportions of the Venus figurines vary. The Willendorf figurine, and several others of its type are endowed with large breasts, a large stomach, and swollen thighs, and is obviously pregnant. Other figurines are shown carrying horns (cornucopias) with much the same characteristics of the Willendorf type figurines. Other figurines differ in shape and size, some are thin but obviously pregnant, and other figurines differ in age and are small. Still other figurines have been found with traces of red ochre paint on