Although women did not make structures, sculptures or paintings in antiquity, they were frequently represented on buildings like temples, in sculptures which were both public and private, and in paintings on vases. They were probably painted on wood boards as well, but none of them have survived; just statements that the Greeks painted portable pictures. What we know about them comes from poems, writings about about history and mythology, and objects that were left behind, like jewelry and cooking utensils. What does it mean when nearly everything left has been made by men and most of what women made, like textiles and clothing and baskets have disintegrated.
Reclining Female Figure, Unknown, Early Cycladic II period, 2500 B.C. - 2400 B.C., From the collection of: Cincinnati Art Museum
An example of the earliest pre-Greek sculptures of a female, ranging from a few inches to over life size, but they all have the same features. Female nudes were not sculpted again until the 5th century.
Statue of a Kouros, about 530 B.C. or modern forgery, From the collection of: The J. Paul Getty Museum
When Greeks began making statues, they started with a Kouros (young male) and the work was always life size, always naked, and always a demonstration of symmetry and Greek power over everyone.
Statue of a Youth, known as the "Dresdner Knabe", Roman, early 1st century C.E., From the collection of: Sculpture Collection, Dresden State Art Collections
From their earliest works, Greeks sculpted male nudes and they did not have to be gods. The male nude demonstrated the best of Greek notions of rationality and power.
The Peplos Kore., Unknown, Around 530 BC, From the collection of: Acropolis Museum
The first Greek sculptures of women were Kores (young woman) and were life size and always clothed, but they were not goddesses. In order to justify a nude female statue, the Greeks needed a story.
Aphrodite (Venus of Taurida), Unknown, Ancient Greece. 2nd century BC, From the collection of: The State Hermitage Museum
The classic rationale for the female nude was that the goddess was surprised while bathing and covered herself. Can you think of other reasons that a Greek male audience would have for accepting this?
Aphrodite and Eros, unknown, 100 BC - 0 AD, From the collection of: Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien
Gold chain, Unknown, 0200/0300, From the collection of: Rijksmuseum van Oudheden
Girl Bathing, Gottfried Schadow, c. 1784 - 1785, From the collection of: Kunstpalast
Cleopatra, Giovanni Maria Mosca Padovanao, c. 1515 - 1525, From the collection of: Kunstpalast
Venus Reclining on a Sea Monster with Cupid and a Putto, John Deare, 1787/1788–1790, From the collection of: The J. Paul Getty Museum
Girl Bathing, Gottfried Schadow, c. 1784 - 1785, From the collection of: Kunstpalast
Cleopatra, Giovanni Maria Mosca Padovanao, c. 1515 - 1525, From the collection of: Kunstpalast
Venus Reclining on a Sea Monster with Cupid and a Putto, John Deare, 1787/1788–1790, From the collection of: The J. Paul Getty Museum
Mars and Venus, Antonio Canova, 1817 - 1822, From the collection of: Royal Collection Trust, UK
Aphrodite (Venus of Taurida), Unknown, Ancient Greece. 2nd century BC, From the collection of: The State Hermitage Museum
Aphrodite and Eros, unknown, 100 BC - 0 AD, From the collection of: Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien
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