Women in European art are portrayed in five different ways. These representations of females are an object to be gazed at, weak and passive, sexually available (Femme Fatale), confined to the domestic sphere and identified with nature. Patriarchy was the dominant ideology for men through 1400-1900. The artwork of Young mother and her children (1834), by Paul Delaroche and the painting of Original Sin by Michael Coxie (1550), are two artworks that both display a patriarchal influence. The artwork of the young mother and her children exhibits a gender stereotype that women should be associated and confined to the domestic sphere, whilst the painting of the original Sin depicts the original Feme Fatale and also an object to be gazed at sexually.
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The two figures in the painting are representing the biblical story of Adam and Eve, and the downfall of Eve being tempted by the snake to eat the apple. The naked woman and man are arranged in front of a tree filled with the forbidden fruit. The woman, Eve, is being positioned above the man (Adam), to demonstrate her sexual powers and how she, as a woman, is more easily persuaded than the man is. The artist used colours seen in nature to represent a calming natural scene. Eve is clearly noticed to be much lighter than the Adam, identifying her to be the focal point of the painting. The artist has used two symbols in this artwork; the fruit and the snake. The snake represents the devil, who is tempting Eve and not Adam. The fruit represents all knowledge of the world. The social consequences of this artwork are portraying women to be more easily manipulated in comparison to the man, depicting that men are strong and women are weak. This also portrays that women are less mentally strong than men, as only the woman was tempted by the snake. As this artwork shows a biblical story, Adam and Eve are pale and white. From this, the painting also indicates hierarchy of men than women, as Adam was created first and then Eve, as he is a man. As Eve is the original temptress, this artwork shows that she, along with other women, are disobedient and prone to temptation, in comparison to the man who did not eat the fruit and is strong and logical. The purpose of this artwork is the show the biblical story of Adam and Eve, displaying gender hierarchy and inequality of both
The two figures in the painting are representing the biblical story of Adam and Eve, and the downfall of Eve being tempted by the snake to eat the apple. The naked woman and man are arranged in front of a tree filled with the forbidden fruit. The woman, Eve, is being positioned above the man (Adam), to demonstrate her sexual powers and how she, as a woman, is more easily persuaded than the man is. The artist used colours seen in nature to represent a calming natural scene. Eve is clearly noticed to be much lighter than the Adam, identifying her to be the focal point of the painting. The artist has used two symbols in this artwork; the fruit and the snake. The snake represents the devil, who is tempting Eve and not Adam. The fruit represents all knowledge of the world. The social consequences of this artwork are portraying women to be more easily manipulated in comparison to the man, depicting that men are strong and women are weak. This also portrays that women are less mentally strong than men, as only the woman was tempted by the snake. As this artwork shows a biblical story, Adam and Eve are pale and white. From this, the painting also indicates hierarchy of men than women, as Adam was created first and then Eve, as he is a man. As Eve is the original temptress, this artwork shows that she, along with other women, are disobedient and prone to temptation, in comparison to the man who did not eat the fruit and is strong and logical. The purpose of this artwork is the show the biblical story of Adam and Eve, displaying gender hierarchy and inequality of both