An imprint of identity? Tradition or Self-representation on Women’s Seals in Medieval Bohemia

0585053 - ÚDU 2024 eng A - Abstract
Dáňová, Helena - Mezihoráková, Klára
An imprint of identity? Tradition or Self-representation on Women’s Seals in Medieval Bohemia.
[Praha. Queens, Noblewomen, and Burgher Women in the Middle Ages. Status – Role – Identity, 26.10.2023-27.10.2023]
Method of presentation: Přednáška
Event organizer: Ústav dějin umění AV ČR, Masarykův ústav a Archiv AV ČR, Ústav pro českou literaturu AV ČR
URL events: https://ucl.cas.cz/udalosti/queens-noblewomen-and-burgher-women-status-role-identity/ 
Grant - others:AV ČR(CZ) StrategieAV21/28
Program: StrategieAV
Institutional support: RVO:68378033
Keywords : women’s seals * medieaval age * art * imprint * queens * abesses
OECD category: Arts, Art history
https://www.udu.cas.cz/archiv/content_cz/programme_conference_prague_queens_2023.pdf

The paper focused on seals of two exclusive social groups of medieval women: Bohemian queens and abbesses of female convents from the 12th to early 16th century. For the female members of the royal family, seals were not only a means of self-presentation, a representation of royal power, and a remembrance of ruling women, but also objects of significant artistic value. Compared to their male counterparts, however, queens sealed far fewer documents. Although the abbesses and prioresses of female convents often had fewer financial resources and their social status varied significantly, they were a relatively in¬dependent body within medieval society, with a range of abilities and official responsibilities. Both groups of seals therefore seem to represent ideal material for studying and understanding the ways of self-presentation of these women. But is it really possible to understand them as an imprint of their identity? What role did tradition play in the formation of the seal image? To what extent were familiar patterns repeated, and to what extent were they a representation of a ruling female figure, or of the state or the monastery as a whole? In addition, the paper addresses the importance of studying the artistic form and artistic quality of the seal image, which has so far remained in the shadow of interest from art historians.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0352829