The Strain in Art

Students took their new knowledge of art history and created a work of art or some mechanism to describe the strains of influence in art. They may choose painting, sculpture, crafts, and architecture. They may focus on theme, subject, formal elements of art (line, perspective, contrast, rhythm, and more), and/ or reason for creation. Here is an example of a strain: The female as Goddess.​

​Venus of Willendorf  24,000-22,000 BCE
This is one of the oldest sculptures of a human figure, used as a fertility goddess. It was discovered by an archaeologist in Austria in the year 1908. 

Minoan Snake Goddess 1600 BCE
This figurine was discovered in 1903 on the island of Crete. It was a Minoan divinity associated closely with the snake cult.

Venus de Milo 130-90 BCE
It is an ancient Greek statue and one of the most famous works of ancient Greek sculpture. The statue depicts Aphrodite, the ancient Greek goddess of love and beauty.

Eve from Junius Bassus Sarcophagus 359 CE
This is a forth century sarcophagus that depicted bible stories. The Romans at the time looked at Eve as the first goddess.

Botticelli 1486 CE
This Early Renaissance painting depicts the birth of Venus the goddess of love, it was unusual to have a secular theme, in this time period and place.

Rubens 1642
He was a 17th century Flemish and European painter. He is well known for his altarpieces, portraits, landscapes, and history paintings of large godlike humans.

Picasso 1907 
Picasso painted "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon". This was the first cubist painting of prostitutes ... as modern goddesses.

de Kooning 1954 CE
de Kooning was an abstract expressionist. He was also labeled as an action painter who often experimented with various types of art. Most of his paintings were named "Woman", these were his expressionistic goddesses. 

Warhol 1965
He was a 20th century pop artist. He is known for his popular culture inspired images. No modern woman is as iconic, “th modern goddess” as Marilyn Monroe.

Student Work