Flavio FebbraroReseñas
Autor de How to Read World History in Art
Reseñas
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It truly is amazing to see how art showcases the evolution of the people’s thoughts over time. From the show-all-privates of Ancient Greece, homo-erotic of the Warren Cup, to the what-prostitution-in-Paris-do-you-mean during Manet’s era, art (and its backstory) will ultimately map the sociology of the era. Febbraro did a fabulous job selecting the pieces AND told the stories well. While the art demonstrated the beauty of the human form, the artistry and skills of the artist, one repeated theme that remains to be troubling is the exploitation of women and children – through violence and prostitution. My enjoyment is somewhat tempered by the reality of life. Regardless, I highly recommend this book as my rating suggests.
One quote on Love:
- Cupid Complaining to Venus, Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1525 – “Cupid, who is grumpy because of the bee stings, complains to his mother and asks her why such small insects produce so much pain. Smiling, Venus replies that he too is small, but causes very severe wounds.”
Some pieces I loved:
- Venus de Milo, 100 BC – The back side is even more sensuous than the front!
- A Yakshini, 2nd Century BC – Sexy and provocative yet in a modern way
- Sleeping Hermaphrodite, 2nd Century – I remember my own surprise at seeing this in person
- The Birth of Venus, Sandro Botticelli, 1485 – This giant wall size art is so lovely that I have the statue of Venus
- Portrait of a Young Woman (La Fornarina), Raphael, 1520 – Luminous glow to her, simply captivating
- The Toilet of Venus (The ‘Rokeby’ Venus), Diego Velazquez, 1647-1651 – That wonderful, curved, beautiful back
- St. Teresa in Ecstasy, Bernini, 1647-1652 – Rodin may be expressive, but it is Bernini who brings life out of stone
- Cupid and Psyche, Antonio Canova, 1787-1793 – Lovely, gentle, sweet, choreographic embrace
- Olympia, Edouard Manet, 1863 – Her look, a confident expression
- The Eternal Idol, Auguste Rodin, 1889 – His admiration of her and her acceptance of him is lovingly mutual
- The Waltz, Camille Claudel, 1889-1893 – Sensual, and the bottom half is expressive as a dress or a tree
- Madonna, Edvard Munch, 1894-1895 – The colors, the halo like feeling that frames her
- The Kiss, Gustav Klimt, 1907-1908 – I was not a fan when I first saw it thinking she looked to be controlled but have since found it to be a dream-like state
- Red Nude, Modigliani, 1917 – Her figure and body shape, the way she lays is inviting
A few that I did not need to see/know:
- The Burney Relief, 2000-1850 BC – Lilith was the “woman” (demon) that was created before Eve when Adam grew tired of copulating with animals… Uh, say what??
- An Adult and a Youth Preparing for Sexual Relations, 5th C BC – Title says it all.
- Aristotle and Phyllis, 1440 – Aristotle let Phyllis ride him like a horse to have sex with her. Oh, Aristotle…
- Lot and His Daughters, Albrecht Altodorfer, 1537 – Eww
- The Orgy, William Hogarth, 1734 – Syphilis black marks are drawn on the prostitutes!
- La Toilette intime, Boucher, 1742 – Voyeurism art, seriously?
- The Slave Market, Jean-Leon Gerome, 1856 – Appalling, with the naked girl in the process of being sold. “…under the pretext of barbaric Oriental customs, illustrates a strong scene of submission and violence towards a humiliated woman… sadistic taste of the period, to the dream of deriving enjoyment from physical and psychological violence…”
- Interior (also known as The Rape), Edgar Degas, 1868-1869 – From the hands that also drew ballerinas. Argh.
- Untitled (Nudes), George Grosz, 1919 – Murder, butchering, must delete from brain
- The Guitar Lesson, Balthus, 1934 – This is even more disturbing than murder and butchering…