You, who ask me for a prompt, please consider "Reclining Nude" by Isaac Israel (1865-1934)

Comments

[Frank P. Tomasulo, Ph.D.]

At a major state university (to remain nameless, although I will provide its initials and location: GSU in Atlanta), I overheard several faculty members and department chairs discussing a BAN on nudes (male or female), especially "full frontal" nudes that depicted "the Full Monty."

The idea for such "cancellation" was that such naked images -- shown in class, assigned as paper assignments, displayed on a bulletin board, or as a poster in a professor's office -- promoted the sexist male gaze and therefore the representation of (mainly women) as sex objects.

At least the lady depicted in the above painting is no bimbo. She's reading a book. Maybe a volume of poetry?

[David Lehman]

Thank you, Frank, for this report from the front. More proof that one is much better off acting in utter disregard of contemporary academic shibboleths. Aesthetically the nude (female or male) is without compare as a divine creation.

[Peter Frank]

A sword about Isaac Israëls, son of Jozef Israëls, both leading painters in the Netherlands in the late 19th and early 20th century. The younger Israëls was a leading figure in the Amsterdam school of Impressionism (called the "Brown Impressionists," distinguishing their palette from the "Gray" tonalities of the slightly older Hague school). The Amsterdammers also distinguished themselves from their Hague counterparts with their preference for figural and social subjects, especially urban life, over the landscape subjects The Hague painters preferred. The stylistic and subjective influence of French realism and impressionism are clear.

[David Lehman]

Thanks, Peter, for the illuminating comment. I also love the misprint that gave us "sword" instead of "word."