Sample Solution

The representation of the female figure in western art has varied significantly throughout history, from prehistoric to the fourteenth century. One example is the Venus of Willendorf, a figurine created by prehistoric people around 24,000 – 22,000 BCE (Schultz & Laubichler, 2000). This limestone sculpture stands at only 11 centimeters tall and features exaggerated feminine features such as large breasts and wide hips which likely represent fertility. Another example can be seen in Ancient Greek pottery such as the amphora known as “Achilles and Penthesilea” which was created circa 440-430 BCE (Metropolitan Museum of Art, n.d.). This artwork depicts two figures engaged in battle—Penthesilea, a queen of the Amazons on one side and Achilles on the other—and serves to emphasize her strength and bravery through this heroic action.

Fast forwarding to medieval artwork; we find many pieces depicting religious themed subjects with female characters playing prominent roles . For instance ; Giotto di Bondone’s painting The Lamentation over Dead Christ from 1305 CE portrays Mary Magdalene comforting Jesus’ corpse while crying (National Gallery , n.d.). By doing so she is not only displaying her devotion but also highlighting her role as an emotional caretaker for those around her .

Overall , these examples demonstrate how representations of women have evolved throughout various points in time within western art history . From being portrayed as symbols of fertility during prehistory to exemplars for courage and emotionality during medieval times , these works shed light on gender expectations that once existed before eventually changing overtime