Women in Art

Women in European Art

Attitude to women and understanding of their role in the European art have changed dramatically since medieval times . This is to trace those changes , using three famous paintings from the Middle Ages Renaissance and late XIX century

The Portrait of Giovanni , Arnolfini and His Wife Giovanna Cenami , also known as The Portrait of Spouses Arnolfini , represents us the figures of a man and a woman , namely an Italian trader Giovanni Arnolfini with his wife . The entire picture , painted by an outstanding Flemish artist Jan van Eyck in

1434 is deeply symbolic , and can be completely understood only after learning the whole epoch , when this masterpiece came to being , however , our point of interest is a woman . Wearing a long green dress , covering her figure , she seems to be very modest . Here respective and gentle look is pointed to her husband . The woman is pregnant , or simulates pregnancy , which was quite a usual thing at the time . In trying any independent role . The hands of the couple are united in the semantic centre of the composition . A man rises his right hand in a blessing gesture , showing his protection

The manner , in which the woman is depicted , shows a , so to say , ideal medieval wife : passive , dependent on husband 's will , and always ready to follow man 's instructions . Her behavior is absolutely anti-feminist it seems , that she simply does not think of her rights and interests

The Alba Madonna by Raphael , painted in 1510 is justifiably considered to be the greatest of Raphael 's Madonnas in North America . The round format of the picture is usual for Florentine style of depicting Madonnas , but is still different from the traditional icon scheme Madonna sits on the ground , rather than on a magnificent throne . In contrast to most of Madonnas of the time , and even many pictures by Raphael himself , she expressly dominates over Christ and John the Baptist , who are depicted as simple children . The focus of their gestures and glances is centered on a slender reed cross that actually defines the work 's meaning . Church doctrine holds that from birth Christ had an "understanding " of his fate . Here he accepts the cross of his future sacrifice , an action understood as well by his mother and cousin However , this understanding by Christ and John is vague and unclear , and the Godmother appears to have clear understanding of future . She still has no decisive power to influence the course of events by her own will nevertheless , she is much stronger and more active , than a woman of van Eyck

Young Mother , Daughter , and Son by Mary Cassatt is the latest of the examined pictures , painted in 1913 . Just as two previous paintings , it 's concerns motherhood . However , at this picture , a woman plays a central role in the composition , binding it together . She is already not an object , serving other 's interests , deprived of own will and independence , she is an active subject , a wise , rather...