The history of breasts: Artistic representations through the ages
Far from shame and modesty, the history of the chest is located in power throughout the centuries.
Whether we are talking about centuries when they were restrained in corsets, or when singer Janet Jackson’s infamous wardrobe malfunction at the Super Bowl finale in 2014 caused a major Twitter storm, society’s attitude towards breasts has always been subject to various social influences.
From Aphrodite of Knidos to Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus—the female figure has always been the inspiration for many artists of the ancient world. However, they didn’t make an appearance in art before the 4th century BC. The Greek statue of Aphrodite of Knidos, created by the sculptor Praxiteles, is considered to be the groundbreaking moment in Hellenic art in which the goddess was first shown naked. Today, many people see this sculpture in embarrassment, even though this representation of the naked female body became the norm back then. However, this didn’t last long as in the art that followed, the female deity began to be depicted with placing her hand over the breast and pubic region—alluding to the fact that they should be kept away from the public gaze.
The Renaissance Period saw the introduction of Virgin Mary into various artworks that mostly depicted her as nursing an infant Jesus, the breasts being viewed as the source of maternal love, tenderness, and care. This was also the age when Botticelli created his masterpiece—The Birth of Venus, which is still considered by many to be the most beautiful depiction of a naked female body in art. Perhaps, at that time, civilisation believed that the naked female form would never be a cause for shame, but soon, at least in Western Europe, the nudity of the female body, and therefore the exposing of breasts, became unacceptable.
A History of the Breast by American historian Marilyn Yalom in 1998, points out that the marked shift in attitude towards breasts was influenced by politics and the economy of the Western world, whereas in Asia and Africa, women were not covering up as yet. This was also a stark contrast to the practices at the British court where revealing any part of the body was considered an act of disrespect. In fact, Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603) appeared almost masculine in her style since she was performing all the duties of a monarch. Though France did not follow the same trajectory...two great icons, the warrior Joan of Arc and Marianne (the symbol of the French Revolution) are both recognisable by their breasts; one covered in military armour and the other exposed in battle.
By the 20th century, tectonic changes had started appearing in people’s perceptions towards breasts. It was in 1913 when Mary Phelps Jacob from New York, wishing not to wear a corset, took two handkerchiefs and tape and made the world’s first bra. Initially, bras were designed with the intention of flattening the breasts, but from the ’50s onwards, pin-up model Bettie Page, along with actor Marilyn Monroe, introduced sexuality into pop culture, which was entirely focused on the chest. Even then, there were beliefs that large breasts bordered on vulgarity, while small ones, the kind actor Audrey Hepburn had, became a symbol of refined beauty, aristocracy, and grace.
In the ’90s, breasts became a symbol of women standing up against patriarchy, as they asserted their freedom and sexuality. A strong image that comes to mind is Madonna during her Blond Ambition World Tour, sporting a Jean Paul Gaultier cone-shaped bra, which then became a symbol of pop culture reference. And thanks to individuals like her, we have been able to adopt a healthier attitude towards breasts. While there is a sexual connotation to a woman’s bust, one cannot overlook the importance that they carry as vital organs of the human body. The breast is directly connected to the heart, and there is definitely no ideal shape. They don’t need implants or bras to be beautiful. We ourselves are responsible for changing our attitude towards breasts, for our own sake, but also for the sake of future generations of women who have yet to build a healthy attitude towards their chest. And things are changing, slowly but surely. After all, no two breasts are the same in the world, so let them swell, jump, and feel important because they are ours and they are unique.
Feature image: The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli
