Many viewers and art historians ask themselves: what is the difference between art and eroticism? As it turns out, it is subtler and more complex than it seems at first glance: it is enough to recall Gustave Courbet's most provocative painting “The Origin of the World” to realize that everything is not so simple and unambiguous.
Gustave Courbet. The Origin of the World
By the way, in the Musée d'Orsay, where it is exhibited on a permanent basis, there is always a guard and a museum attendant near it, “to avoid misunderstandings”. And how can schoolchildren be allowed into the museum if such masterpieces are exhibited there? But let's try to understand in this article what is the difference between real art and cheap obscenity, which, unfortunately, too much in the network, and its overpopulation sometimes prevents the development of, hopefully, really worthwhile publishers in social networks, specializing in art and painting.
This issue became especially acute after the speeches of feminists. It all started with the blatant act of Mary Richardson, who decided to chop up Diego Velasquez's painting “Venus in front of the mirror” with an axe. It is good that she did not manage to do this, and the reason was only too much interest of men looking at this painting in London's National Gallery.
Diego Velázquez. Venus with a mirror
However, feminists could sometimes be understood. In the Metropolitan Museum of Art, over 76 percent of the paintings depicted female nudes, and only 4 percent were painted by ladies. This gave them an excuse to stand up with a placard saying, “does a woman have to be nude to get into the museum?”. Although here the question is rather historical: simply artists among men were much more numerous than among women, who in general should be engaged only in housekeeping and child-rearing. But still, despite all the prohibitions and prejudices of society, there were outstanding artists among ladies, for example, Artemisia Gentileschi, who also willingly painted female nudes. And in what category would you put her paintings?
Artemisia Gentileschi. Self-portrait in the form of an allegory of painting
It is believed that erotica evokes desire and is completely focused on it. But you can compare Francisco Goya's painting “Maha nude” and the turnover of some men's magazine. Basically, find ten differences.
Francisco Goya. Maha nude
By the way, Goya deliberately changed the proportions of Maha. So, the boundary is still quite blurred and conditional, perhaps it is a matter of the level of artistic execution and the meaning that the creator himself puts into his work. Goya's painting was painted for a private commission by Manuel Godoy and was not intended for public display.
Yes, and it is believed that this is a kind of portrait of Caetana Alba, great-granddaughter of the bloody Duke of Alba, who was a lady very willful, brave and beautiful, and her status allowed any, even the most daring antics. She could pose nude in front of the elderly and deaf Goya, and maybe not only pose.
Portrait of the Duchess Caetana Alba.
But it is still posing, much more “decent” than that for the 16th century sculptor Benvenuto Cellini. He posed exclusively innocent girls - at that time, only young ladies could keep it, because they were given out very early in marriage, and it was almost impossible to refuse this fate. And after posing, he stripped them of their innocence. And how can we impartially evaluate his sculptures?
Saliera salt shaker
Where, in your opinion, is the line between acceptable and unacceptable, and whether we should continue to publish articles with reproductions of works of art, where there is nudity. Write in the comments.
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