Conflicting images of Medieval Women
...ar as declaring women “The original cause of all evil” in his sermons. (Kraus pg. 80) In sculpture and other artworks of the time, Eve was repetitively depicted in a revolting posture. She was also portrayed as a repellently ugly or hatefully seductive woman. These particular qualities are evident in the capital relief at Autun, representing Eve’s mortal vice of Unchastity. This of course represented all woman of the time. Eve is also said to assume an intimate relationship with the devil and a fondness for serpents. Images of women suffering in Hell were common on church facades of the time. While the depiction of the male figure developed and changed by the twelfth century, the images of women remained largely unaltered. Kraus gives many examples in his text for how women were thought of based on Eve’s actions. Kraus then makes a shift from Eve to Mary, and develops the interpretation and significance of images of Mary, Christ’s mother. The personification and qualities of Mary greatly contrast those of Eve. Mary was considered the “Woman without sin” and the “non-woman Woman”. It was the “anti-Eve” that was adored and worshipped. I struggle to understand this great dissimilarity between two greatly similar individuals. Kraus also exemplifies how in the twelfth century the image of Mary changed from divine mother virgin to real woman and a real mother. Kraus continues his explanation of the evolution of Mary, if you will, and continues to give examples of how Mary, the mother of God, is portraye...