Vrouwenfiguur voor een gebouw gedragen op een plant 1831 - 1906

This is an undated artwork by Jules Chrétien Charles Joseph Henri Helbig, titled “Vrouwenfiguur voor een gebouw gedragen op een plant”, which translates to “Female figure in front of a building carried on a plant”. This artwork, made by a male artist, is rife with imagery of the female form, but what do these women represent? The central figure is presented in front of a building with two male figures standing guard, while a winged figure hovers above. The image evokes a sense of classical antiquity with an ornate scene that is both grand and slightly absurd. The artist was born in Belgium during a period of significant social and political change, which might explain the juxtaposition between conventional and alternative narratives. Ultimately, this image is a representation of societal ideals regarding women during the time of its creation. I wonder what our own artwork suggests about women today.