When I first viewed the Venus of Willendorf, without the outside influences of Witcombe, the voluptuous figure reminded me of femininity, and classic representations of fertility. Her buxom breasts and widened belly give the appearance of a woman who has previously given birth or is in the midst of pregnancy. Her genitals are quite noticeable and there is no face at all which also hints that this idol was specifically made to enhance or mark fertility.
Whitcombe assessed that classical views of Venus were of more "restrained" women, women who were strictly under the patriarchal power of that time period. The classical Venus has smaller breasts, less protruding buttocks, and a genital area that is not as obvious as the Willendorf. Thus, Willendorf must be viewed as a more unruly woman, for her genitals are enhanced. I do not necessarily agree with this interpretation (but I DO have minimal knowledge of Art History...). The socialistic views of beauty in the time of Willendorf may have been of a rather large woman, complete with buxom features... this does not mean she is "animalistic" . What make large breasts primitive and small breasts "refined" and under patriarchal control? In the renaissance periods women with less curvaceous bodies may have been preferred. His assumption is that women with or portrayed with smaller features must be under patriarchal control and women with larger features are more free but "primitive". I find this interpretation rather offensive, and misogynistic, but I am a woman... Whitcombe also makes the assessment that classical Venus' features are more feminine than buxom Willendorf. To me, this is very clashing with the idea that enhanced female genitals alludes to a greater femininity.
It is interesting that when Venus is viewed from the top of the head, she resembles. almost uncannily, the body of a mature and pregnant woman. When Venus is viewed forwardly, she has a very strange appearance. Her body does not appear obviously as an impregnated woman; the belly is too flat and not robust enough to allude to a child within. Since when this piece was made mirrors did not exist, it can be imaginable that a pregnant woman would not have a clear representation of herself from the front view therefore I find it an acceptable theory that the Venus was made by a pregnant woman herself. Which makes sense, who knows more about pregnancy than a woman has previously or is currently experiencing it?
The Venus of Willendorf is an interesting piece to study because so many people have different opinions of what her meaning was within her time period and what her meaning is to us and there is no way for anyone to know definitely without the written word.
