Art has always been a depiction of the times that people have lived in and the elements that have in some way or another contributed to their overall life experiences. Through art, one can judge the quality of life at a particular period of time. Art is a major field of study as far as learning about ages gone by is concerned. Through art, one can form opinions and gain knowledge regarding the rituals, customs, and way of life at various points of history. In this regard, art is deemed an important part of history.
Art also shows the thought process followed by people at a certain point in time. This is depicted through the portrayal of various practices and rituals in paintings. One such painting that shows fear, awe, and tradition is ‘The Ten Commandments’ painted in the year 1516. Painted by Lucan Cranach, the Elder, the Ten Commandments is the depiction of the lives and times of the people in the 1500s. This painting has been presented as a panel that tells the story of right and wrong; good and evil. (McKay et al, 2003) This paper will seek to challenge and discuss the following theory regarding the painting:
‘This painting by Cranach has an obvious misogynistic tinge that merely reflects Luther’s attitudes toward women.’
To begin with, the technicalities of the painting include dimensions that go into 160 cm by 340 cm. It is an oil painting where each of the Ten Commandments has been given a separate square. The basic theme of each square is the breaking of the commandments and the punishment for each. This kind of theme depicts the degree of authority that the Church held over the people at that point in time. Through its various squares, there are a number of feelings that come to the fore regarding the punishers and the punishable. Here, it is imperative to list out the Ten Commandments so as to understand the theme in each separate box. (McKay et al, 2003).
Ten Commandments have been depicted:
- You shall have no other God before me.
- Do not take the Lord’s name in vain.
- Remember the Sabbath.
- Honour you father and mother.
- Do not murder.
- Do not commit adultery.
- Do not steal.
- Do not bear false witness.
- Do not covet your neighbour’s goods.
- Do not covet your neighbour’s spouse.
These Ten Commandments show that the people of that time were not mere participants of the Church – they were also practitioners of these. This is the period when the practice of the Ten Commandments began, and it continues to date. The interesting point that has been portrayed in this painting is the punishable person who is dressed in the same way in all the ten squares. This shows that the punishable are set apart by various standards that ruled the society of that time. In this way, there is a certain misogynistic tinge to the painting where there is a preconceived notion of the wrongdoer.
Before moving on, let us regard this style of art so as to understand the messages attached with the same. The 16th-century form of art is one that has been used by historians and artists alike to study the rituals followed by people through the clothing and facial expressions depicted. The art of this time is known as Renaissance, and it was a time filled with the emergence of concepts like individualism and realism. It was therefore deemed important by an artist like Lucas Cranach the Elder, to harness this wild tide of new concepts through an artistic expression that would remind people of what is good and evil. Lucas was known to be a staunch practitioner with a penchant for replicating the Church’s teaching on canvas. His attitude towards life was one that looked for a message in every word and every act. This shaped his experiences as a person.
The painting by Lucas Cranach has a misogynistic element in it. The painting shows the fact that Lucas Cranach could draw conclusions out of every situation in life. This particular one made him portray women in a light where they were seen as evil mongers. His attitude towards women comes across plainly as the only squares that have portrayals of women are those that have to do with adultery. This is of special importance for the study of a period where there was little importance for women. Also, the portrayal of women is done so as to show them as mere temptations in a man’s life. This shows the misogynistic approach that the painting takes. (McKay et al, 2003).
References
McKay, J P; Hill B, D; Buckler, J. A History of Western Society, Vol. B: From The Renaissance to 1815, 7th edition, Houghton Mifflin Co., 2003
McKay, J P;, Hill B, D; Buckler, J. A History of Western Society, Study Guide, Vol. II, 7th edition, Houghton Mifflin Co., 2003.
Wikipedia, the World’s Free Encyclopedia. 2007. Web.