Sunday, February 24, 2008

Does this picture offend you?



Well, the London Tube thinks that it can offend passengers so it has forbidden it. The picture, titled Venus from Lucas Cranach, the Elder (XVIth century), is advertising one of the most important painting's exhibitions which will be held in the Royal Gallery from May 8th.

8 comments:

Pastorius said...

No, but it turns me on, which might offend some other people.

;-)

Unknown said...

You brute!!! hahaha!!

Now, seriously speaking. The picture presents a delicate and elegant nude woman. I have seen much less delicate and certainly less elegant photos in ads (at least in Madrid's metro). Yes, the others could be dressed, but you know, the attitude and the behaviour can be much more sexually explicit that even if you are nude. Don't know if I explain myself.

I just cannot understand why this one should be excluded, both as a piece of art and as an elegant painting.

Anonymous said...

I've always thought that girl looks like she has feet that are going to be just killing her by the time she's about 40. Women in medieval paintings have verrrrrry strange figure. The Cranach is nice but she's not Boticelli's "Venus on the Half Shell".

Actually, more likely it would have been an irresistible invitation to some creative augmentations courtesy of artistically-inclinded riders. To say nothing of the fun the taggers would have had with it. I'm waiting for the announcement that some work of art has been removed from public view specifically on account of complaints by Muslims who find artistic nudity offensive.

Michael Travis said...

This sort of thing has been a mainstay of Tube-Adverts for at least 40 years. What has changed?

(in America of course you could go to prison for even attending such an exhibition!)

ISLAM RULES

Unknown said...

I am not saying she's pretty (she is typical from the German first part of the Renaissance AND of the art of Lucas Cranach). I am only saying I cannot find her nudity offensive.

I'm waiting for the announcement that some work of art has been removed from public view specifically on account of complaints by Muslims who find artistic nudity offensive.

Me too. I don't think that's very far though. Just consider what has happened with Moors and Santiago Matamoros...

Pastorius said...

I claim that woman in the name of a Christian Europe.

Always On Watch said...

A lot of Western art is haram.

How many Muslims do YOU see in art museums? Hmmmmm?

von Schlichtningen said...

Look what the Talibans did to art in Afghanistan.

What would happen in a Muslim dominated world:

1) No more art would be produced
2) All offensive art would be destroyed (99%?)