I have been neglecting my blog recently because I have been so busy this week with getting my project on Degas finished. Since I have a free moment I'll let you guys know about this really interesting lecture that I attended on Thursday night about controversial art in the 19th century.
The lecture was really fascinating and the guest professor discussed how works can be controversial in their own time and then controversy can be assigned to works by other generations. One of the paintings that was rather shocking was one by Gustave Courbet, who during his own time was a controversial artist, but his painting The Origins of the World just totally caught me off guard.
So did some of the disturbing images of Francisco Goya. The thing is I feel like it is important to see and appreciate images that are sometimes unpleasant because the truth is those dark elements are a part of the human condition. I feel it is better to face that darkness within directly and deal with it rather then shun it and hope that it goes away. Check out some of the paintings that were discussed below. WARNING some of the paintings are very graphic!
Courbet - Origins of the World - 1886
Goya - Saturn Devoring his Son - 1819
Eakins - The Swimming Hole - 1885
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