Post # 2

                   The Roles of Women during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance            

             Throughout the history of western art, the Middle Ages to the Renaissance Women have gone through some slight differences in their role, but important factors was involved in this changes such as the social class status,and the integration to a religious life, and the courage for be independent. The Middle Ages known as The " Dark Ages" was a time where women was subordinated by men completely in every possible aspect. Men ruled their house, their businesses, and over any female in their families. As a result of men domination, women were only permitted to stay at home. They didn't have the quality or the state of enjoy freedom. Sadly, women didn't have a voice or other role besides being a mother or a wife. The goal and the mission of a woman's social role was determined by the society. The suggestion was that women should begin their mission to get married at pretty early ages. 
            During this time, the roman catholic church was a powerful politic, economic and social force. The church was so powerful by that time that if a person decides to go against it negative consequences would be the result of it. Church determined and emphasizes the role of women and the division of social class, as well. However, the role of women who decide to play a more active religious life could actually learn and acquired literacy. Families used to send their daughters to join convents to pursue a religious life. The economic situation was so difficult for most people. However, parents couldn't afford  their tithe to church so the daughters were sent in exchange. Women were not allowed to be educated. Education seemed a threat to society ruled by men ,and a sign of rebellion from women. As the Guerrilla Girls stated “Education was though to interfere with a woman's ability to be a good wife and mother. Almost no women were though to read and write" (22). The hard reality for women in the Dark Ages was full of impediments that stops women to progress and be someone  in the society. By that time the money women made working for their families business was given to men. According to The Guerrilla Girls, “Almost all women worked in some family business, but the fruits of their labors belonged to men-their fathers, husbands, or brothers."(22), and  " A women had to obey her husband, and he could beat her is she didn't."(22). Women who were nuns from women who weren't have  less restrictions and were allow for the first time put in practice their innate abilities. In monasteries women began for the first time to create art and  get educated. Nevertheless, Chadwick stated in his book " Within the convent women had access to learning even though they were prohibited from teaching by St. Paul's caution that a women must be a learner, listening quietly and with due submission. I do not permit a woman to be a teacher, nor must a woman domineer over man; she should be quite"(45). Some women were trying hard enough and showing  that they were capable to support themselves economically such as Christine de Pizan. She was a fighter and a pioneer for other women at that time. She impressed the world using her abilities as a writer. She raised her children as well after she became a widow. She let a lot to say specially when women had all these barriers and restrictions and she actually besides them was able to support herself and continued creating art despite all the obstacles in her  way. The Guerrilla Girls points out “Christine de Pizan and Hildegard von Bingen led lives far from what was expected of women in the Middle Ages. Roll over, Leonardo et al.: Guerrilla Girls Believe that they were the first Renaissance (Wo)Men” (27). 

             During the Renaissance, women  from upper class families and those women who poverty dictate their entire life have similarities and their roles but differences as well. The guilds who were only for male artist who were considered the real art ambassadors finally allowed women from the upper class to joined guilds. However, painting was not considering a good strategy for women. Even thought that changes appeared in the renaissances for the elite class in all Europe. Women in lower class status were still the same and in disadvantages from men . Sofonisba Anguissola was one of the ones who began their professional career as a painter. She worked with portraits and “not allowed to sell her paintings due to the lack of position” (Chadwick). Anguissola as a few had a father who believed all women should be educated. The lower class women who father believe in their education, they would teach them. 

Sofonisba Anguissola - Self Portrait, 1561 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Self-portrait_at_the_Easel_Painting_a_Devotional_Panel_by_Sofonisba_Anguissola.jpg

     Over, the years women had a hard time in being recognized for their paintings. They had man  steeling their work . They would even sing the pictings with their parents and the brothers or husbands names. Women contributions which were many but not known especially to world of art. During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries women weren't permitted to draw nude models, and only paint what was common between women paintings  something that reflects their gender or that gives  a sense of  femininity. Womens painting must be a representation of their delicate human specie such as the Flower Piece by Rachel Ruysch. 

 Rachel Ruysch, flower piece, after 1700. http://employees.oneonta.edu/farberas/arth/ARTH110/ARTH110_SL15.html

          Things change once  Anna Maria Sybilla Merian, a member of the painters’s guild, who did something different than just painting only flowers. She created the Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium, an incredible advance for botanical and zoological studies. Meanwhile, men painters dedicated to paint historical events.  
          

         Overall, in the nineteenth century, women obligations and social pressure lead them to choose between a  marriage and a career. Women who succeed such as Rosa Bonheur actually never got married.  She prioritized her career over what society imposed over her gender and her mission. Well, throughout these centuries women acquired some rights, however up until today we still under men’s arm. Most of the female painters who exceeded when out of man's way. 

Bibliography :

"Art History 101 - The Renaissance." About.com Art History. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2013.

Chadwick, Whitney. Women, Art, and Society. New York, NY: Thames & Hudson Inc., 1990.
The Guerilla Girls. The Guerilla Girls' Bedside Companion to the History of Western Art. New York, NY: Penguin Books, 1998.