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Women have been depicted in the arts throughout human history, but despite being a diverse group making up half of our population, they have had consistent themes attributed to them through the arts. In this exhibition, I will highlight the various depictions of women across the globe and provide information on what insights we may gather on the specific culture attributed to them. From maternal figures prized for their fertility to symbols of status, "A Critical Look at the Depiction of Women Through Art" looks at the other gender and the roles they have played in society under a patriarchal system.

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"Figure of a Woman", 2600–2300 BCE, Early Cycladic

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"Figure of a Woman", 2600–2300 BCE, Early Cycladic

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The piece, "Figure of a Woman", was chosen for two reasons. First, this piece is one of the earliest depictions of the human figure to date, finding its origins in the Early Cycladic Period. For this reason, it is an instrumental baseline in the depiction of women in art throughout history. Additionally, the use of abstraction highlights key features of the figure, namely the breasts and abdomen. This highlights Early Cycladic societies perception of women as maternal figures and birth givers, with roles limited to the production of offspring.

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"Nike Adjusting her Sandal", After 407 BCE, Delian League

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"Nike Adjusting her Sandal", After 407 BCE, Delian League

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"Nike Adjusting her Sandal", to me, highlights an unfortunate theme so prevalent in depictions of women through the arts. While the piece is often credited for depicting the goddess Nike in a more humanizing matter it still sexualizes and objectifies her presence. The drapery that covers Nike here is wet and clings tightly to her body, eroticizing the piece. Some suggest the act of removing her sandal is associated with a bride losing her virginity, alluding to acts of sexual violence common in warfare. The fact that two things are interconnected, marriage and violence, highlights the lack of autonomy women were given over their own bodies.

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"Bronze Statuette of a Young Woman",  Late 6th Century, Etruscan

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"Bronze Statuette of a Young Woman",  Late 6th Century, Etruscan

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This piece, "Bronze Statuette of a Young Woman", was chosen for how it depicts women as objects of status and beauty over independent human beings. Made of bronze, the artist put careful consideration in texturing both the woman's flowing hair and creased dress, highlighting the artists focus on perceived beauty. The stoic and peaceful demeanor are highlighted by her tight stance and outstretched arm, highlighting her role as obedient, presentable wife.

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"Mina’i Ware Bowl", Late 12th-Early 13th Century, Later Abbasids

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"Mina’i Ware Bowl", Late 12th-Early 13th Century, Later Abbasids

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I chose this piece, "Mina’i Ware Bowl", for two reasons. The first reason is that this piece highlights a unique cultural perception of the sexes not prevalent in my other selected works, particularly that of androgeny. To the Later Abbasids, beauty standards were androgynous, with both sexes having similar characteristics highlighted as beautiful. The second reason I chose this work was how the various forms of ornate help highlight the pair's wealth and thus status, bringing to attention how such beauty has usually used as a symbol of status.

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I have chosen this work, "Woman with Dead Child", by Käthe Kollwitz, for its raw depiction of maternal grief. This piece employs complex shaping in this woman grasping her deceased son in order to show a simultaneously caring and mourning nature. Additionally, the heavy use of shading gives a distinct description of our subjects in this piece, with the deceased son given soft shading to reflect his innocence, while the mother is given dark and heavy shading to create a sense of loss and pain.

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Jean Robertson, Deborah Hutton et al. (2022). History of art: A global view. THAMES & HUDSON.
Metmuseum.org. (n.d.). Retrieved May 8, 2022, from https://www.metmuseum.org/
British Museum. (n.d.). Retrieved May 8, 2022, from https://www.britishmuseum.org/