A1 Journal article (refereed)
Women and Demons in the Late Medieval Wall Paintings in the Church of Espoo (Finland) (2017)

Fält, K. (2017). Women and Demons in the Late Medieval Wall Paintings in the Church of Espoo (Finland). Mirator, 18(1). http://www.glossa.fi/mirator/pdf/i-2017/womenanddemons.pdf

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Fält, Katja

Journal or series: Mirator

ISSN: 1457-2362

eISSN: 1457-2362

Publication year: 2017

Volume: 18

Issue number: 1

Publisher: Keskiajan tutkimuksen seura Glossa ry

Publication country: Finland

Publication language: English

Persistent website address: http://www.glossa.fi/mirator/pdf/i-2017/womenanddemons.pdf

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/54707

Abstract

The late-medieval stone church of Espoo (county of Uusimaa), situated on the south coast close to the current-day capital of Finland, Helsinki, displays a wealth of medieval wall paintings executed around the 1510s by a group of painters that has remained anonymous. In the fourth vault of the north aisle a demon has been depicted as the proxy and associate of women who are seen in typical household tasks of milking and churning. On the west wall above the entrance a depiction shows a demon passing a pair of shoes to a woman, and above, three demons are seen twiddling with a parchment. This article analyses the images and places them in the context of social control that aimed at regulating behaviour by maintaining and emphasising notions about gender and gender roles.

Keywords: Late Middle Ages; church buildings; mural paintings; topics; women; demons; gender; gender roles; social control

Free keywords: late medieval; wall paintings; churches; Espoo; Finland

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2017

JUFO rating: 1