Art

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Gender is a factor not only in how the work is perceived socially, but also in the iconography the artist uses and the way they interpret their subject. However in his work the woman’s head is forced uncomfortably against her shoulder demonstrating his male dominance. Although Claudel depicts common themes such as love and dance, they are shown in a different manner than her male peers. By studying Claudels life and how her work was received we can learn more about, not only her, but the social conditions affecting her and others at the time. It would be some time before it would be acceptable for a woman to either paint nude forms or any radical subjects in order to combat such depictions of women. We can also gain insight into how gender relations effected the way male or female artists depicted similar subjects. Her lower body is covered with a long, flowing gown. Claudel’s sculpture shows a dancing couple, the man naked and the woman seminude. Yet, the finished product is strongly associated with the discrimination she had to face as a woman. Despite the leaps exhibited by Renassaince female artists of this time, this acceptance did not represent equality. The iconography of the metaphysical love between the couple and the covering of the woman’s naked body demonstrate the themes in gender issues previously discussed. Nonetheless, it is during this time, that female artists began to take steps to combat their restrictions. Their embrace is close, yet there is very little physical contact. Beth Morisot and Mary Cassatt were able to access new dimensions of the female daily life (Adams, 86). However, regardless of Claudel's radical desires, in the end her finished work depicts both her defiance and the power of the discrimination she had contested.

Common topics in this essay:
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Approximate Word count = 1936
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)

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