In a word: orientalism. This art movement was predicated on the exoticism and “othering” of subject matter and the bystanders serve as a proxy for the audience of the art itself.
Orientalism wasn’t an art movement, the picture is in “academic” style.
IMO your interpretation can be put in a more straightforward/blunt way: the painting is basically pornography built upon cheap cultural stereotypes. (And it really is bizarre that this sort of garbage art gets upvoted to much, simply because it has an air of refinement around itself that excuses its clearly pornographic character.)
And it really is bizarre that this sort of garbage art gets upvoted to much, simply because it has an air of refinement around itself that excuses its clearly pornographic character.
Maybe we’re just upvoting it because we enjoy pornography…lol.
Well, I guess that would be fair, as long as we don’t confuse sexual appeal with artistic value. (Saying this in particular due to a poster guy ITT who said an another poster critical of the painting should “get some culture”.) But the fact that it is posted on an art sublemmy and not some NSFW sublemmy, suggests that the confusion has occurred.
In a word: orientalism. This art movement was predicated on the exoticism and “othering” of subject matter and the bystanders serve as a proxy for the audience of the art itself.
Orientalism wasn’t an art movement, the picture is in “academic” style.
IMO your interpretation can be put in a more straightforward/blunt way: the painting is basically pornography built upon cheap cultural stereotypes. (And it really is bizarre that this sort of garbage art gets upvoted to much, simply because it has an air of refinement around itself that excuses its clearly pornographic character.)
This is sad. It’s basically a figure study in 4 parts. Go back and slap whomever you paid for your degree.
Maybe we’re just upvoting it because we enjoy pornography…lol.
Well, I guess that would be fair, as long as we don’t confuse sexual appeal with artistic value. (Saying this in particular due to a poster guy ITT who said an another poster critical of the painting should “get some culture”.) But the fact that it is posted on an art sublemmy and not some NSFW sublemmy, suggests that the confusion has occurred.
Thank you for your response!
Welcome! I should have linked the wiki but here you go: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orientalism
Edward Said’s Orientalism is a real slog to read, but definitely the foundational academic work on this, if your interest is piqued.
The onlookers look like attendants of the guests.