The Evolution of Birth Art: A Brief Selection of Thematically and Chronologically Organized Images of Childbirth in Vairious Cltures

<p>This thesis, which serves as part of my requirements for my Master’s of Art degree in Humanities, examines the subject of childbirth in art from antiquity to the late twentieth century. Beginning with the ancient goddess statue the Venus of Willendorf, this thesis provides a brief thematic and chronological survey of how childbirth has been depicted in sculpture and painting in various cultures throughout the ages. Included in this thesis arc a range of topics including women and nature as sacred symbols, Christian symbolism, medical illustrations, and political art. The thesis is divided into three thematic chapters, within the chapters the artworks are chronologically organized.</p> <p>The second portion of this thesis is the completion of two 30 x 40 acrylic paintings. Using the historical research, I was able to ground my paintings in the lineage o continuing where modem art has ended. Therefore, the subject matter of my paintings is an unfolding iris, which was inspired and rendered unlike those found in nature and more similar to the colors of my son Myles complexion blues, blondish, browns, and pinkish skin tones) and disposition (sunny yellows, vibrant greens, deep ocean blues).</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts

Level thesis:degree_level

Master's Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Humanities

Year

2004

Author dc:creator

• Cohen, Alexis Ruppanner

Contributors dc:contributor

• Leslie Ross, PhD
• Edythe Bresnahan, MFA

• Humanities
• Arts and Humanities

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholar.dominican.edu/humanities-print-theses/243

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholar.dominican.edu:humanities-print-theses-1242