Reclaiming the Reclaiming the Symbols?Symbols?

A Look at Victorian ArtA Look at Victorian Art

Reinforcing the SymbolsReinforcing the Symbols

The art that I looked at seemed, for The art that I looked at seemed, for the most part, to be reinforcing the the most part, to be reinforcing the feminine symbols. The women were feminine symbols. The women were all either weak or seemed to be all either weak or seemed to be alluring and seductive in a dangerous alluring and seductive in a dangerous way.way.

A few examples stuck out that A few examples stuck out that exhibited the traces of actual exhibited the traces of actual reclaiming symbols.reclaiming symbols.

“Helen” – Sir Edward John Poynter

As exhibiting the infamous Helen of Troy, this piece seems to be portraying her less as a seductress and more as an innocent maiden.

Her hand is over her heart and her cloak is fully covering her.

It seems in this piece the woman is being put into the position of a helpless maiden, completely at the whim of Paris.

Her gaze is almost fearful and the pose she takes is one of weakness.

““Helen of Troy”- RossettiHelen of Troy”- Rossetti

This Helen is This Helen is distinctly different distinctly different from the previous.from the previous.

Use of red.Use of red. Fingering necklace.Fingering necklace. Burning in Burning in

background.background. Sensuous lips and Sensuous lips and

wavy hair; wavy hair; seductress.seductress.

Women can be seductive; to completely dispense of all representations as such would be more destructive than beneficial. However, in the dual paintings of Helen of Troy, one is clearly portraying a different side than the other.

Perhaps rather than portray Helen as a seductress who beguiled Paris to take her, we can view her as a victim of abduction and kidnapping, not just “The face that launched a thousand ships”. Therefore, it is not her vain or greed that causes a war, rather the squabbles of men.

Personality of women is key.

““Circe Offering the Cup to Ulysses”Circe Offering the Cup to Ulysses”

Wand - Phallic, Wand - Phallic, masculine symbol.masculine symbol.

Cup - Feminine SymbolCup - Feminine Symbol Sheer fabric/clothingSheer fabric/clothing Able to see naked bodyAble to see naked body Negative Symbolism: Negative Symbolism:

She who attracts to She who attracts to destroy.destroy.

Destroyer – Bones on Destroyer – Bones on floor?floor?

““Nymph and Satyr”Nymph and Satyr”

Nakedness – He is Nakedness – He is not fully but she is.not fully but she is.

She is pressing him She is pressing him in closer to her.in closer to her.

He is looking at her He is looking at her nakedness; as if nakedness; as if her nakedness is her nakedness is what is alluring him what is alluring him to her.to her.

SeductressSeductress

How to ReclaimHow to Reclaim

Femme Fatale: Nudity and clothing is Femme Fatale: Nudity and clothing is one example of how a woman can one example of how a woman can control a man. Women as control a man. Women as seductresses are portrayed as naked seductresses are portrayed as naked or alluring in sheer or revealing or alluring in sheer or revealing clothing.clothing.

Red lips, long wavy hair, elongated Red lips, long wavy hair, elongated neck, and powerful stature are neck, and powerful stature are characteristic of the femme fatale.characteristic of the femme fatale.

““The Delphic Oracle”The Delphic Oracle”

Reclaiming the Reclaiming the Symbols: She is in Symbols: She is in perfect form, perfect form, almost draws the almost draws the viewer in with her viewer in with her attentive eyes.attentive eyes.

Naked without Naked without being overtly being overtly sexual; powerful sexual; powerful and proud.and proud.

She IS the Oracle.She IS the Oracle.

““A Pastoral”A Pastoral”

He is in a position of He is in a position of comfort and stability, comfort and stability, locking his arms locking his arms around while she around while she falls against him falls against him helplesslyhelplessly

Position of his and Position of his and her hands, as well as her hands, as well as their feet are very their feet are very sensual and dance-sensual and dance-like. like.

““Ariadne”Ariadne”

She lies on a bed She lies on a bed contemplating her contemplating her future.future.

Helpless amidst the Helpless amidst the men who control men who control her life.her life.

Story of Theseus Story of Theseus and she puts a and she puts a sense of sense of abandonment on abandonment on the painting.the painting.

““Penelope and the Suitors”Penelope and the Suitors”

Shows woman as the loyal wife; while her Shows woman as the loyal wife; while her husband is away she refuses all urges and husband is away she refuses all urges and denies the suitors and their gifts.denies the suitors and their gifts.

Taking her company with other women and doing womanly duties: sewing and such.

Back is turned: Is she ignoring the men or not facing temptation?

The Weak WomanThe Weak Woman Women are shown as defenseless Women are shown as defenseless

and depicted as uncaring of their and depicted as uncaring of their fates; rather, men decide what is to fates; rather, men decide what is to be done with them.be done with them.

Key symbol: AndromedaKey symbol: Andromeda Reclaim through ACTION of women, Reclaim through ACTION of women,

not just contemplation.not just contemplation.