Venus of Willendorf was given the name "Venus" by Marguis Paul de Vibraye because of the sense of irony that he found. Venus of Willendorf is exactly the opposite of the traditional Venus that is represented in prehistoric art. Most women in prehistoric art showed a sense of modesty as they cover up their breasts and pubic area. They are also tall and more fit compared to Venus of Willendorf, hence the sense of irony. Edouard Piette called her "Venus" which describes an ivory woman who's torso only survives. She has been nicknamed "The Pear" because of her round shape. Now, the name "Venus" has a negative connotation because it describes obese and masculine. Some have found a debate in whether or not Venus is a woman. The parts of her body all clearly say that she is a woman, but because of her large figure, she appears physically dominant and to some that means she is masculine making her a man. Because of the appearance that is seen in the carving of Venus of Willendorf, the name "Venus" is no longer a name given to an ideal woman. In our generation today, many women would not appreciate being called a Venus, especially if they were being referred to as Venus of Willendorf. We seem to think that the original Venus, just like many artists did before, has an ideal appearance. She is pretty, she is fit, and she is feminine.
The carving of Venus of Willendorf has lead to the creation of many theories. In some cases she is thought to represent fertility. The fact that she has large breasts, larger hips, and an exaggerated pubic area has lead to the belief that she is a representation of the ideal child barer. Another theory is that she was an obese woman of power. Her large shape proves that she was not out hunting and gathering her own food so she must have had someone doing it for her. This then leads to the thought of there once being a matriarchy where women were in power. Women might have been the ones who were once masculine and powerful. Then, there is the theory that Venus of Willendorf represents the Earth Mother. It became known that many tribes worshipped females in certain instances.
Overall, Venus of Willendorf raised a lot of questions and created a negative meaning for the name "Venus" but she still got many people thinking and left an impression on those who found interest in her. She even added a little twist in prehistoric art with her unusual portrayal of the female figure. I found the story and theories about Venus of Willendorf to be very intriguing and I believe that there was a purpose for her creation.
