Prehistoric Art- Venus of Willendorf Analysis by Lamis Hassim

After finishing off an extremely interesting movie (BBC - How Art Made the World) about prehistoric art (with some scary music), we proceeded to analyze the Venus of Willendorf.  Otherwise known in our class as "the one with the boobs"

Title: Venus of Willendorf, 11cm

Medium:  Limestone 

Artist : Unknown (I personally picture a hipster caveman) 

Date: Circa between 24 000 and 22 000 BC

Elements of Art: (We can now confidently name them in our sleep)

Line: Curved (or "the lady line"), which makes up the detail.

Tone/ volume/ shading: 3D rounded/ bulgy forms which seem to be more prominent in the front than the back

Colour: Monochrome, warm, brown and natural

Shape: Rounded and organic 

Texture: Bumpy in areas which contrasts to the smooth body

Space: Not much except in the belly button (JM: This was the students' suggestion not the teacher's) - sculpture in the round

Principles of Design: (Even Mrs Martin had to open up google for this one- in her defense it was a very tiring day) 

Focal Point: Breasts/ Stomach

Rhythm and Movement: Curves create some movement and sense of flow, the little bumps in the head create rhythm

Harmony: Fairly harmonious- everything is round and curved as opposed to the head.

Proportion: Exaggerated.

What we have realized is that the Venus of Willendorf may represent a pregnant woman due to the fact that we assume cave woman would have had a very active lifestyle (gathering the berries and whatnot) and probably would have had a somewhat more slender figure.

We assume that this sculpture would not be for worship purposes or represent trances as it is rather small, instead we think it was used as a fertility symbol or charm. Cave woman may have wanted lots of kids as many of the kids would have died either in childbirth or as a result of a disease as there were no medications which also meant labour without anesthetic... May God help them. 

So we are proud to present the new vintage accessory. In a cave closest to you.

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