“Thread of Art” is the journey of a theme, an image, an element, a style or technique, or a particular medium of art that follows a path (thread) of thought, observation, analysis and understanding.

A thread, usually a thin line, travels and eventually highlights, captures, ties, forms, bonds and closes – or not.

In thought, a thread weaves an idea, subject, concept, mood, scale, term or philosophy from one source to another. So, in looking at art, whether architecture, craft, drawing, painting or sculpture, this thread of seeing is present in traditional, abstract and non-objective art of all periods.

This blog will arrive once a month, between the 4^thand 10^th.

The debutante edition is September – now!

How do men SEE women? How have male artists portrayed women?

This has always been a prevalent and sometimes volatile issue in art.

One of the most well known sculptors of the 20^thcentury is English artist, Henry Moore.  This is his “Reclining Figure” from 1969, cast in bronze, 6 full-size editions, 3 in private collections, valued at 6M.

What do you see?

Although abstract in style, (abstraction always having a reference to reality), this figure is certainly recognizable as a female, and one with an elongated anatomy. Looking closely, Moore has emphasized the heavy buttocks, the pelvic area, and the robust thighs and knees in a slight “bridge” position.

Twisting slightly to the right, the figure is balanced on the right arm, while the left arm is raised. The right breast is alert. Actually there is a left breast, on the same plane as the right one, just out of view.

Perhaps there is a drape over her lower body, as there are visible bumps, protrusions, irregularities, and one oblong shape on her lap.

There is no head.

Why?

Could she stand? Or is she weighted to the earth?

Does this figure suggest a river goddess, a muse or siren, resting comfortably, enticing and persuasive? Could Moore be making a sexual statement or is he just exaggerating the reproductive area of this figure, or both? 

Or is the figure simply trying to move her heavy and cumbersome lower body; the majority of the 2.2 tons of bronze is used in this region. 

And is she without thought, intelligence, or emotion – just a massive vessel or Amazon?

SHE, this “nude,” is described by Moore as the pinnacle of his career.

Now take a look at this stone sculpture –

……another female figure of exaggerated proportions – the “Venus of Willendorf”.

This figure is carved from oolitic limestone and with hints of red ochre.

The figure was found near the Danube, in Willendorf, Austria.

Limestone is not indigenous to this region, so she was brought here.

You can immediately recognize that she is probably a fertility goddess, an archetype to the later and beautiful marble Venuses we know of from antiquity, all associated with willfully alluring the male gender and particularly the male sculptor.

But is this “Venus” alluring? 

With careful examination, you can see her tiny stubs for arms and barely visible feet, the ribbed and enlarged breasts, her enormous stomach, and swollen genital area.

Her head is tilted down and is wrapped in a braid that could be braided hair or a hat. She has no facial features and thus no identity. 

When viewed from the back, she has bulbous buttocks.

Is she generic? Or an ideal? Did the artist find her desirable? A fetish?

Or was his intent focused on survival, the production of progeny for his tribe?

Yes – this is Paleolithic.

25,000-22,000 BCE – the Old Stone Age

She was discovered in 1908 and is only 4.3 inches, transportable in the hand.

Here is a reminder: The intent belongs to the artist. The meaning is yours, the viewer, the student, the critic, or connoisseur, the scholar.

Note: It is speculated by some archaeologists and scholars that the artist of this piece could be a female observing her own body, perhaps pregnant, tilting her head and looking down at her inflated and swollen shape, unable to see her feet, unsure of her facial features, as her only mirror was her reflection in water.

Something to think about.

The portrayal of women in art will continue.