My Kid Could Paint That

The “free the nipple” movement promotes the ability of women to show their breasts as freely as men. Women posted nude photos of themselves on social media, but instead of showing their own nipples they photoshopped male nipples on, criticizing the legal vs. illegal nipple. The society proposed illegality of nipples arises from both sexes, in fact, women participate in the shaming. Miley Cyrus is quoted saying “have you seen those nipples?” as either a slam on Kim Kardashian’s body, or possibly complimenting her on her openness. Although many people insist that a woman’s breast should remain within the confines of her clothing, Lucian Freud openly paints the most disturbing of nudes. 

Girl with a White Dog appears highly explicit, but Freud might consider its contents modest. Although many artists glorify the nude, Freud chooses to paint the realities of the human body. Freud’s nudes do not acknowledge the “illegality” insisted on by society, in fact he defies any restriction society could possibly put on the painting of a nude. In this painting, Freud paints his first wife, Kitty, during her pregnancy. Freud’s paintings typically include a “psychological revelation,” this one having to do with the birth of his child. Kitty’s eyes stare off in a sleepy haze, not actually looking at anything. 

The presence of the dog symbolizes the fidelity, guidance, and comfort that comes along with having a child. Her breast can be viewed in multiple ways, either a symbol of motherhood or eroticism. Breasts symbolize motherhood because of their link with caregiving, but the sexual implications of the painting arise more obviously. People immediately link the naked body with sex, as well as her attire. It is questionable why Freud would choose to paint his wife in her robe, as if just completing a sexual act, rather than glorifying her beauty. Freud’s promotion of the freedom of a woman and her body does not coincide with societal views during this time period. He advocates for women’s rights to their body and self-expression through his art work. 

Just as one forgets their coat until the cold rolls in, clothing has a redemptive effect on the human form which we often take for granted. Lucian Freud, who preferred the term "naked" over "nude," manipulated ideas of human dignity and intimacy in a manner reminiscent of his grandfather, the infamous psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud. Both men, it seems, were plagued by a constant awareness of the body's frailties and shortcomings. Lucian's work reveals a self-contradictory love of, and distaste for, the human form. His subjects are uncannily vivid, glowing with the sickening brightness of rot. Their facial expressions straddle the line between peacefulness and death. Their flaws -- the veiny hands, the wrinkles, even those blackened toenails -- are as endearing as they are disgusting, and the man's nudity is unbearably striking when juxtaposed with his friend's pajamas. At first glance one turns from this painting. But if, as I did, you look for long enough, you cannot stop looking. The nudity gradually becomes less shocking until the clothed man seems like the odd one out. There is a strange and ferocious pride here, an unabashed affection. Ugly love is the purest.

It is difficult to exist in a human vessel. For many years I believed my body did not function or look the way it was supposed to. I respect Lucian Freud because he painted people as he saw them, not as they wanted to be seen. The result is deeply comforting. Though few of his subjects look pretty or even healthy, there is warmth in the way they relate to each other on the canvas. I do not wish to suggest that their flaws make them beautiful. This is simply false. But their interactions are a little bit beautiful. I read several articles about Freud's artistic process, all of which elicited entirely negative reactions in the comments. They were not intelligent reactions. Someone complained about his 2005 painting of Kate Moss, claiming she had a distasteful amount of pubic hair. Someone else responded with the YOU-CALL-THIS-ART!!!!! snobbishness usually accorded to abstract works. I have a suggestion for these people. I think they should go find a mirror. Freud's work is certainly grotesque, but it is important. If it  horrifies us to see the reality of the human body on a canvas, we probably do not look around enough in real life. Let's all take a break from our Instagram accounts and our overproduced pornography to check out some Freud.

You're really screwed up, aren't you? Your body is a transient wreck.

It's ok. I love you anyway.

Art as the Erotic

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