How Art made the World

6 Comments

July 7, 2007 8:05 pm

Thanks, Raza. Watching a clip from the documentary at google video, I realized that I had seen the statue in the natural history museum in Vienna last year. I didn’t realize its significance though, till I read your post.

Irving

July 8, 2007 12:57 am

I think it also represents fertility; a good and informative post 🙂 Thank you, dear Brother Raza. And I love the new look of the blog/website 🙂

Ya Haqq!

Sin

July 8, 2007 6:03 am

An ur-goddess figure. Actually very interesting, with the oversized physical attributes; fecundity, fertility, growth and prosperity. I find it amazing that we ascribe traits though, since we can’t really say for sure if it was actually meant to be anything other than a crude statue of a woman. 🙂

July 8, 2007 6:30 am

Bhupinder: I was trying to be concise in my post but the story is most fascinating – how human brain looks for exaggerated forms. What is the connection, the impetus and impulse.. Through the ages, humans are attracted to images and figures that bring out more than the apparent.

Irving: yes there is clear symbolism – the primordial image of a fertile earth providing for the humans. Almost all the so called pagan cults have this common feature..

Sin (!) – having said all of the above, I agree how would we know what it all meant. BUt that is the fun of exploring our past and in a ways ourselves as well..

I Me My

July 9, 2007 3:29 pm

It’s interesting to note that ‘mother earth’ is sans eyes, ears, and a nose; the parts of the human body that are so vital to discrimination and prejudice!

Ejaz Asi

October 23, 2008 4:32 pm

While there’s no known cultural significance or method of creation of Venice of Willendorf, she does suggest strong connection to fertility but not to ‘mother earth’ as the author or few commentors hinted. Nor even Nigel Spivey made any attempt to suggest so in the documentary.