Gallery takes down 'naked nymphs' painting.
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"Hylas and the Nymphs" by John William Waterhouse
Manchester Art Gallery has removed the above painting from its walls as well as postcards of it from their shop. The reason given is to ponder whether images such as this erotic Victorian fantasy are unsuitable and offensive in the 'current climate' of the Time's Up and #MeToo movements. See the article at TheGuardian.com.
Personally I don't see a connection between naked nymphs tempting a young man to his doom in a classical painting with sexual assault. I also wouldn't even call this 'erotic' but that's the term used in The Guardian article.
“The removal itself is an artistic act and will feature in a solo show by the artist Sonia Boyce which opens in March.”
I also don't see this as an 'artistic act'. A publicity stunt? Sure. An attempt to exploit another artist's work for her own gain? Perhaps.
I always thought art is an expression of an artist and a reflection of a culture and time. Should we being applying filters to our own history? Even if something is now considered offensive, do we learn from the past if we distort and whitewash the past? How do we teach art history if that history is edited?
