 |
| Hildegard of Bingen, Scivias, 1142-52 |
Before the Renaissance, women were always subjected to be responsible for the lives of men and children, especially the man of the house. Women were supposed to "be in her home, taking care of those around her" (Guerilla Girls, 39). Women were always considered property; it was normal for fathers to pay a dowry for their daughter to get married into a good family. How absurd! It was as well typical for women to become nuns. While this sounds like it was the last option for women, it was probably a better option analyzing this with a feminist mind. Women who became nuns learned. They were literate and intelligent and were exposed to knowledge. Most women who were confined within their homes to care for a man that was most likely just interested in her for the sole purpose of procreation, did not learn. Their teachings came from cooking and knowing how to wash clothing. Women who were in the convent went on to have great legacies. A great example is Hildegard of Bingen. Her book, Scivias shows multiple religious experiences she claimed to go through. While her testimony is questionable by many, her illustrations are great examples of her art work. While women who lived the melancholy life of housewife, the church was a way to get recognized. Bingen wasn’t the only one who made a name for herself, she was only the beginning. There is more information in regards to women during the Middle Ages here.
 | ||
| Artemisia Gentileschi, Susanna and the Elders, 1610 |
Once the Renaissance
began taking over people's lives in an immense way, women began questioning
their roles within society. It was not like an on and off switch where women
were automatically integrated into the dominating patriarchal world. There was
still a struggle in women getting their name recognized, especially when it
came to art work. Slowly, women made statements, criticizing the stereotyped
roles that were in place for her. They as well criticized the
preconceived notions that men had about them. As stated before, women were
always considered the weaker sex, making this idea very much prevalent in
various artist's work. A great example is
Artemisia Gentileschi. The daughter of a painter, she was a feminist in her
time, questioning gender roles. One of her paintings, titled Susana and
the Elders, showcases a twist on a former painting the same name, painted
by Tintorreto. The painting tells the story of a woman who is bathing, and two
men appear and ultimately rape her. Tintoretto lays out the scene in a somewhat
calm perspective, hiding the perpetrators from the viewer. Gentileschi’s
perspective is raw and cynical. The woman in her painting is avoiding these men
and she looks deeply disturbed. Her painting promotes “a more disturbing
psychological content” (Chadwick 109). While the two paintings tell the same
story, their perspectives are completely different and invoke a different
feeling. This painting exemplifies Gentileschi's feelings as a woman and her
opinions towards men.
 |
| Judith Leyster, The Propostion, 1631 |
While women were still making progress deep into the Renaissance, there was still turmoil with the way women were perceived. There were various women artists who painted for a living and got their name recognized by many. While this is a huge accomplishment, women were still being objectified, which should not come as a bug surprise. Even of the most successful women were high in the ranks with men, it was still difficult for men to adjust to the shift of both genders being successful in whatever field. Women artists transmitted this ideal in their paintings as a way to promote their feelings about being considered less than. A great example is painter Judith Leyster. Her painting, The Proposition, depicts a scene that probably many women during that time period went through. We see a man standing behind a woman, who is sewing, and his hand is held out, full of coins. It can surely be inferred that this man is proposing to this woman that they have a sexual encounter and he pays her, basically calling her a prostitute. If women painters painted based off on real life experiences, this depiction says a lot about the men of this time period. The woman in the painting is not paying any mind to the man, which tells the viewer she does not care for these unwanted sexual advances. Leyster’s painting is a prime example of what women had to go through, even if they were women who were not considered prostitutes. Women were always considered “as an object of exchange for money” (Chadwick 124). Even if prostitution was considered normal or not, there was still this stigma that women were property and could easily be bought. This is not the case, and unfortunately, some people still think like this in modern society. More information about how the painting provokes an uneasy feeling can be seen here.
Women during this time had to go through many struggles, despite the fact that there was some progress for them. Many women, especially those who were painters, saw a successful life because of their great talent. From the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, women slowly began to be integrated into society. While this is great, it was not a complete integration within society. Women still had to go against the societal norms that were put against them from centuries before. Even today, there is still a social divide between men and women. It is not as dominant as the era before, but it comes to show how hard it has been to “become one with the boys.”
Works Cited
Chadwick, Whitney. Women, Art, and Society. , 1990. Print.
The Guerrilla Girls' Bedside Companion to the History of Western Art. New York: Penguin Books, 1998. Print.
No comments:
Post a Comment