Renaissance Gender Roles

“The role of women was a very scarce role” (Gender Roles of Women in the Renaissance, Cloud). The way that women functioned in society during the Renaissance were shaped by men who were predominant. In this popular painting by Rembrandt it depicts the role that males played during the Renaissance and represents how society was structured during the time period. Women were out of the picture during the 1600’s; way before the first wave of feminism was brought up. In the painting, The Anatomy of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp, Rembrandt shows how men were more superior than women during that time period. The painting represented what roles males played in the field of science and politics. Women during the Renaissance didn’t represent power, but sexuality and desire in paintings …show more content…
Women were used as sexual objects and represented femininity. Many paintings during that time period didn’t represent the women’s role. Women played a different role in art unlike men during the Renaissance period. Women in art represented sexuality and desire therefore many artist create explicit paintings of women. They also created beauty standards for women during the Renaissance because they were being influenced by a male dominate society. In some cases the wealthier women had more power and independence than most (Women in the Renaissance). Women were constricted from their roles because they were considered too weak to run and rule a society (Role of Women, Ducan). Due to this idea being implanted into society, women were held back from doing things that would help define their role the society. The majority of paintings made during the Renaissance, including The Anatomy of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp, were strictly painted by mostly men who depicted their own superiority in society. This painting that is made by Rembrandt represents the male’s superior in specific subject for example, it shows their curiosity in science and