Nude art or lewd art?

While browsing through pictures in my parents coffee table book, I came across William Bouguereau’s famous masterpiece, “The Birth of Venus.” After observing the piece of art, I began to think about other people's reactions whenever they saw this painting. Were they in awe of it's beauty or were they blinded by their crude tendencies?


The artist, William Bougeureau, was a well-known 19th century French painter who was obsessed with painting the female body. He embraced classic romanticism even though impressionism was the popular theme at the time, but this did not stop people from enjoying his work. I began to understand why someone, at that time or now, would think this painting was controversial. Bouguereau's spin on the birth of the Roman goddess, Venus, is full of sexuality. The observer can infer that spending a few seconds looking at the work. After researching, I found that Venus is associated with love, fertility, and beauty. The clam shells at her feet in the painting are suggested to be a visual metaphor for a vulva and the angels and other humans lay nude and almost star-struck by Venus and her feminine charm.


Though most people wouldn't exactly want this hanging on their mantel instead of a family photo, I believe that almost anyone can enjoy "The Birth of Venus," even if they do giggle at the nakedness.