One of my research interests is on how women are represented in art, the Imitatio Mariae-project is part of this since it involves the question of ideals. On Sunday 24 November a column in the newspaper Aftonbladet written by Katrine Kielos discussed how women now often are judged by different parts of their bodies (http://www.aftonbladet.se/ledare/ledarkronika/katrinekielos/article17899906.ab). Only this morning I could read articles in the very same paper on how some woman totally have lost her curves, another is showing a nice cleavage, the next has perfect skin, and yet another apparently does everything to hide her pregnancy. Most of the time these small notices are scornful as the woman in question has not showed enough style or discipline, or she might be complimented for being perfect in her looks. Her profession does not matter; the same measures are used on models, actresses, politicians, etc. since they first and foremost are women in this particular way of judging.

As I was looking for images to use in this post, I noticed how when googling "body parts" all anatomical imagery was of the male body (and this was also the majority of the hits I got), while the photos of women most often were from the above kind of articles. It is quite depressing, so I chose a totally different image — in itself also an ideal image — the name of the Virgin.

 I have been reading medieval Marian prayers lately, and one category concerns the different limbs of the Virgin that are worthy of praise. This might make you think it involves the same practice as in the contemporary examples above, but it is kind of the opposite. The Virgin's arms, knees, mouth, breasts, eyes, etc. are worshipped because of her actions. How she used her body in the worship of God, how she cared and showed love of her Son, and this is what makes the body parts of the Virgin Mary beautiful. She is also praised for being chaste and pure, of course, which adds to her physically magnificence. This ideal is not the easiest to copy, but it does not reflect the same scorn for us sinners as the stories of todays newspaper.