Female figurines from prehistory often inspired the art of the twentieth century. The forms of the new discoveries not only had a stimulating effect on the art of the early 20th century, but also prompted a different narrative of history - namely from a female perspective. The figurines thus formed the basis of an alternative to historiography written from a privileged male perspective. The oldest art of mankind thus became an important treasure trove of motifs for feminist art since the second half of the twentieth century. The exhibition presents prehistoric depictions, primarily from Austria, and confronts them with works by contemporary women artists that demonstrate the immense fascination of the new art for the oldest. The juxtaposition of old and new art illustrates the influence and unbroken active reception of archaeological finds. On the occasion of this exhibition, finds with female connotations from Austrian collections and museums are presented and placed in an international and contemporary art context. Austria's collections are home to the most important archaeological references for contemporary feminist art worldwide, which focus on the female body, its charisma, power and relationship to life.

The exhibition, curated by Elisabeth von Samsonow and Katharina Rebay-Salisbury, features works by Egon Schiele, Judy Chicago, Pierre Bouillon, Meret Oppenheim, Louise Bourgeois, Maresa Jung, Nicole Malbec, Anna Anvidalfarei, Marina Stiegler, among others, Francesca Aldegani, Mari Otberg, Elisabeth von Samsonow, Renate Bertlman, Gerti Machacek, Sascha Zaitseva, Laura Hirch, Maria Biljan-Bilger, Ida-Marie Corell, Larissa Kopp, Florian Aschka, Iris Andraschek, Anabel Scheffold, Ulli Lust, Lizzy Maryl and Linda Steiner. Highlights from an archaeological perspective are the Venus figurines from Eggendorf, Falkenstein, Willendorf (replica) and Langenzersdorf (replica), the human figurines from Langenlebarn as well as the female toad from Maissau and the votive toad from Munich.