Articles

Exploring The Curves of A Woman

About forty-five years ago I started on a journey, a very long journey, exploring body image. Like so many women in our society, there are deep body issues that keep us from progressing in our life. These years have been one bumpy ride filled with obstacles, low self esteem, depression, and questioning if I have what it takes to even function in society. I am going to continue on my quest to educate myself about the use of the female body in art history and talk about some of my favourite artists who were inspired by the female figure. For those who read along...I hope you enjoy the read!

Exploring The Curves of A Woman: Venus of Hoyle Fels

Throughout history many artist's have illustrated the uniqueness of a woman's body. Their inspiration has given the art world many unique antiquities. Whether her ample curves were due to childbirth or enjoying the abundance of life, those curves are set in history. Being a fuller figure woman, I decided to explore the history of the fleshy, sensual woman, depicted in the arts. As I do, I am starting a series of nude paintings celebrating and accepting the curves of women. In this pursuit, I hope to finally come to terms with my own feelings, negative and positive, about being labeled 'obese, fat, curvy, full figure.' As I have started to melt away the fat that has been attached to me for so many years, I want to let go of some of the negative attitudes I have and finally accept some positive. So, with that, I am going to give a few examples of other artists who have painted, sculpted, or photograph women with ample figures. If you would like to give your feedback about this subject, please join me in discussing this topic?

One of the earliest examples of the volumptuous curves of a woman depicted in figurative art, is a 35,000 year old figurine, discovered by archeologist Nicholas J. Conard. Conard found the figure in a cave in 2008. Titled; the Venus of Hohle Fels.

The figure was named after the place in which it was found, Hohle Fels Cave. The artifact, only 2.5 inches in height, gives us one of the earliest clues that women's bodies were seen and depicted not just as symbols of fertility and life, but, one's of sexual sensuality. From the ample bossom, buttocks, extending to the over exaggerated vulva shows that a fuller figure woman was desired and the object of someone's interest. View the New York Times article here. 

Just like the older figure, "Venus of Hohle Fels," the "Venus" discovered in Willendorf, Austria, has the same depictions of full breasts and buttocks. The vulva prominent and evidently the intricate styling of the hair was all part of the sensuality displayed in this 28,000 year old artifact. The "Venus" is made out of lime stone and believed to be carved by flint tools, is one of the first examples of patriarchic history of art in the Paleolithic age.

Encyclopedia OF IRISH AND WORLD ART offers and interpretation of the Venus of Willendorf:

"Interpretation

What makes the Willendof statuette so compelling is its graphic portrayal of obesity. One feels that, despite the scarcity of food and the unlikely prevalence of overweight females, the sculptor must have worked from a model. If so, this "celebration" of what would have been rare corpulence, might be a factor in the work's interpretation. In other words, such a body shape might have been worth ritualization. The fact that no equivalent male figures have been unearthed need not undermine this theory. First because few male Stone Age figures of any description have been discovered, second because female bodies have traditionally been hallowed as fertility symbols, not unlike the Virgin Mary of modern Christianity."