On Tuesday, continuing our section on painting, we looked at some work by Christiane Pflug, which I found really compelling. Although the subjects she paints (children, domestic setting, etc.) are not uncommon, or strange, the way that she paints them completely alters their effect--at least for me. It's just like Professor Kelly said in class, the sterile space of the house, looking out into the outdoors creates a real sense of claustrophobia, and adding to that the knowledge that she had a strict husband and really spend most of her time in the house increases that effect.
This is a really great example of work that is really feminist, although maybe the artist wouldn't have said so. It really gets across the restricted existence that women were obliged to live for centuries--and still are, in many parts of the world. In the painting, "Kitchen Door with Esther" I really get the sense (but it might just be me) that the way she has her daughter perched in the doorway like that--it's like she hopes for something better for her daughter, that her daughter won't be as trapped, or have to feel as claustrophobic. I don't doubt that many women at that time felt the same way about their daughters.
The couple of paintings we looked at in class really spoke to me, not only as a woman, but as a woman who sees some of those more traditional roles and traits as part of her identity, and as not mutually exclusive to being treated equally, getting an education, and being independent. As I looked through Pflug's eyes, and imagined how she must have felt, a conflict that I often encounter when I think of my future was brought to the forefront again. I know I want to be a mother someday, and that nurturing a family and working to create a home are things I want to accomplish in my life. I sometimes entertain the possibility of spending some time just as a homemaker if that one day becomes possible. However, I never want to experience that feeling that comes across in the paintings of Christiane Pflug. I never want to feel trapped or limited to the home, and I want to be treated with respect by my partner, and be considered equal. I can't be guaranteed that, that is possible, especially in today's society when that type of unpaid labor still isn't valued as much as it should be, and women are expected to have a paid career if they want to be seen as equal to men. I hope a balance can be achieved between the claustrophobia presented in these paintings, and the complete rejection of traditional "women's roles" altogether.
The couple of paintings we looked at in class really spoke to me, not only as a woman, but as a woman who sees some of those more traditional roles and traits as part of her identity, and as not mutually exclusive to being treated equally, getting an education, and being independent. As I looked through Pflug's eyes, and imagined how she must have felt, a conflict that I often encounter when I think of my future was brought to the forefront again. I know I want to be a mother someday, and that nurturing a family and working to create a home are things I want to accomplish in my life. I sometimes entertain the possibility of spending some time just as a homemaker if that one day becomes possible. However, I never want to experience that feeling that comes across in the paintings of Christiane Pflug. I never want to feel trapped or limited to the home, and I want to be treated with respect by my partner, and be considered equal. I can't be guaranteed that, that is possible, especially in today's society when that type of unpaid labor still isn't valued as much as it should be, and women are expected to have a paid career if they want to be seen as equal to men. I hope a balance can be achieved between the claustrophobia presented in these paintings, and the complete rejection of traditional "women's roles" altogether.
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