Las Virgenes Cristiano's Expuestas al Populacho or The Christian Virgins exposed to the populace is a famous painting by the Filipino painter, reformist, and propagandist Felix Ressurección Hidalgo y Padilla. It was oil painted on a canvas on 1884 and won a silver medal in the 1884 Exoposicion General de Bella's Artes in Madrid, Spain. The Silver medal for the painting became a landmark achievement that proved the ability of Filipinos to match the work of the Spaniards and laid claim to Filipino participation in European Culture,according to Raquel A.G Reyes author of the book Love, Passion, and Patriotism: Sexuality and the Philippine Propaganda Movement. By winning medals both Hidalgo and Juan Luna are the first international Filipino painters. This piece is measured (45 inches x 62 inches) a copy of this piece is now in ownership and is part of the art collection of the Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Central Bank of the Philippines) which is loaned by the National Gallery Singapore for 5 years since 2015 as part of it's Southeast Asian art gallery.
As what you can see in this masterpiece two helpless Christian women are being assaulted and is being mocked by a group of Roman male onlookers. It pretty much relates to how most men these days like to treat women sexually despite of their religion or beliefs. Stereotyping has been one of the biggest causes of most social issues in our society today. The sexual intentions of men these days do not only effect adult or older women, but they even start to mock and sexualize teens or even younger girls. They simply don't know or even don't care about how such actions would affect women, yet they still continue to pursue and develop their lustful desires.
As a man I don't know how much pain do women suffer from these assaults, but as a person who is raised and disciplined in a well mannered environment, I have learned how to empathize, to feel and to understand one's pain. All women who are pleading for help should not be silenced, but should be justified. I understand on how much agony and suffering they have been through just by looking at their eyes that spell out fear. As of somewhat today's social controversy that I have heard on the internet, a female teenager was sexually insulted by men of the same or even older of her age, just because of her appearance. This controversy made me want to protect and defend women's rights, but I am unable to do so because I don't like trouble and I wouldn't like to have to make enemies.
Las Virgenes Cristiano's Expuestas al Populacho is a very honorable ,and marvelous, and outstanding piece that deserves lots of praise. It depicts about how unfair and how unjust people treat others before. For me the women here in this masterpiece represent the people who are vulnerable and those who don't have the courage to stand up for themselves, while the men represent the people who are unfair and those who think that they are above among us. Equality is what everyone should know about, no matter how strong you are still prone or weak at something. I remember a certain part from the Bible where Jesus defended a prostitute from being stoned by people, he said that " Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” Everyone felt guilty and then avoided stoning the woman. That particular verse in the Bible relays the message that no one has the right to judge someone despite of their appearance or actions.
Everyone should be treated with respected equally especially women. Be humble and be peaceful minded. Before we act or do a certain move we should consider someone's feeling whether they may get hurt physically or emotionally. Everyone is created uniquely in a way that each of us differ from others. Yes we might be different physically, emotionally, or mentally, but we still are as one specie, Human.
Links:
Image and some information from: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Virgenes_Cristianas_Expuestas_al_Populacho
Bible Verse: John 8:7
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