Venus of Willendorf

The Venus of Willendorf is an interesting and leaves us pondering the meaning behind this small pear-shaped figurine. I believe we discuss Venus of Willendorf so much when we know so little about it, is due to imagination of ones ability to think about what this could have meant in perspective to feminism or other perspectives. I suppose that Venus of Willendorf is repeatedly discussed and is sometimes seen as an issue, which can be due to feminism and masculinity, and what characteristics define each to be. The traditional roles of the male and female gender may help understand and point out that she has no feet to stand on nor hands to support herself, which may show that she is dependent on another person, perhaps a male relative.  Males are constantly figures in society that gather food, and sustain control and dominance over females. The fact that she has no fingers or hands, and very thin forearms suggests that she cannot pull the weight of another individual, as in doing the same amount of work. I concluded this from the proportion of her arms in comparison to the rest of her body. Her obesity can also imply that she is healthy or rich. Obviously not starving, she has a healthy standing, and she also may be rich, which might be evident from her bracelets on her wrist. 

The terms “Venus” is used to identify this carved figure in that Venus of Millendorf is a female replica of what characteristics define a female at that time. At the time of discovery, this piece of art resembled love, or more so the primitive assumptions, or of what women were seen as. Of course, the topic of feminism and masculinity are still so controversial. Women’s traditional roles are still not seen as important to society as traditional work of men. Perhaps if there were a male figurine of the same size and material, we would see that there would be distinct features of what masculinity defines man to be. We would more than likely see the muscular sized thighs and arms, with perhaps an abdomen area hard as a rock, maybe portraying strength and agility to hunt his prey, or the possibility as acting as a barrier of protection.

When I read about what the author thought of as beauty of this figurine, I thought of it as a joke, because when we think of being named after a goddess, Venus, we think of the elegant, vibrant, loveable, and beauty that is almost unrealistic in reality. However, when we view Venus of Willendorf, we obviously can make a clear distinction between what beauty is and is not. When I look at Venus of Willendorf my eyes are immediately drawn towards the oversized body parts that make it reveal that the figurine is female. This leaves me questioning as to why the body parts were not made proportionate to the average female being. In the book it suggests that it was sculpted to express fertility, in which can mean that that culture wanted to build upon the foundation of culture, and expand their values and teachings to their offspring.  Today, beauty is seen as what we individually assign it to become, and what is pleasing from what we know and have learned.