Despite more than a century and a half of speculation, these nude, faceless sculptures remain utterly enigmatic. Who made them? And what might they have been for?
In the 160 years since the Venus figurines were discovered, there’s been no shortage of speculation about what purpose they may have served. For decades, the idea that they were simply pornographic objects, designed primarily for the male gaze, has remained a popular explanation, alongside the view of the artworks as fertility figures.
My guess it’s porn.