Female Art

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how, because women have always been an integral part of society, their role has been depicted in artwork from the very first sculptures and cave paintings. Not surprising, the way that they have been delineated through art has depended on their changing responsibilities. Also, when women create the art pieces instead of their male counterparts, differences are recognized. The paper compares and contrasts this status within several different cultures such as ancient Greek Egyptian and Minoan cultures. The paper concludes that in most cases, except for the Minoan culture, the women's status continued to decline as the culture became more structured and urban. Except for the earliest times, therefore, women have had a subservient role. This has not only been in Western society, but Eastern cultures as well.

From the Paper:

"In the period of approximately 3500 BCE to 635 CE, or during such cultures as the Akkadian, Neo-Summarian, Babylonian and Hittite, when looking at the art work it is difficult to know whether the women are depicting female humans or actual goddesses. For example, a female head from Uruk, Iraq, made out of marble from 3200 to 3000 BCE may be a female head or the Summarian goddess Inanna (34). Inanna., later known as Ishtar, was the Summarian goddess of love and war who was the most important female deity in all periods of Mesopotamian history (35). In a Sumerian ruin from the fourth millennium, statues and reliefs are found that are related to her worship. It is unsure, however, whether or not this goddess was represented in human form at that time. Because of continued importance of fertility at the goddesses at this time, women most likely continued to play an important role. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Kleiner, Fred S., and Mamiya, Christin. Gardner's Art through the Ages. New York: Thomson, 2005.

More papers on Female Art:

• Term Paper # 133037 : "Artemisia Gentileschi's Intervention in Art History"
• Analytical Essay # 143168 : "Female Social Integration in the Modern African Figurine"
• Essay # 90247 : "Naked or Nude in Art"

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