Comments on: Question of the Week: Where Is the Line between Private and Public? http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/question-of-the-week-where-is-the-line-between-private-and-public/ The online magazine of the Getty Tue, 21 May 2013 16:00:41 +0000 hourly 1 By: Val http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/question-of-the-week-where-is-the-line-between-private-and-public/#comment-64236 Val Fri, 30 Sep 2011 04:19:57 +0000 http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/?p=5613#comment-64236 Profile pictures on the Web are often asymmetrical or slightly obscure compositions, maybe for anonymity or to try to be different. Since you brought up Facebook and Twitter and the notion of Web profiles, it made me think that perhaps Lautrec had a similar motive in this composition. As an artist, surely he wanted to stand out and try new ideas. With this perspective he does something unexpected and fresh, which makes the picture more interesting in a way. On another note, "dinnered"? Is that really a verb? Profile pictures on the Web are often asymmetrical or slightly obscure compositions, maybe for anonymity or to try to be different. Since you brought up Facebook and Twitter and the notion of Web profiles, it made me think that perhaps Lautrec had a similar motive in this composition. As an artist, surely he wanted to stand out and try new ideas. With this perspective he does something unexpected and fresh, which makes the picture more interesting in a way.

On another note, “dinnered”? Is that really a verb?

]]> By: Alice Cisternino Jackel http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/question-of-the-week-where-is-the-line-between-private-and-public/#comment-64181 Alice Cisternino Jackel Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:20:45 +0000 http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/?p=5613#comment-64181 Susan, you've picked up on a powerful tension in the painting. Lautrec's point of view isn't straightforward and can be interpreted as matter-of-fact, voyeuristic or respectful. Some critics write that Lautrec avoided constructing moral hierarchies in his work while others say his compositions revealed the superficiality of Parisian entertainments. I think the subtlety and ambiguity in "The Model Resting" render it captivating. Susan, you’ve picked up on a powerful tension in the painting. Lautrec’s point of view isn’t straightforward and can be interpreted as matter-of-fact, voyeuristic or respectful. Some critics write that Lautrec avoided constructing moral hierarchies in his work while others say his compositions revealed the superficiality of Parisian entertainments. I think the subtlety and ambiguity in “The Model Resting” render it captivating.

]]> By: Alice Cisternino Jackel http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/question-of-the-week-where-is-the-line-between-private-and-public/#comment-64159 Alice Cisternino Jackel Thu, 29 Sep 2011 23:02:15 +0000 http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/?p=5613#comment-64159 Thank you, Annelisa, for pointing out this detail. Her body is in the public light but her mind is hidden and remains her own. This interpretation is reinforced by our view of the back of her head, which keeps her identity private. Your comment also serves as a reminder that a profession, whatever it may be, is only part of a person's life and doesn't define his or her character. Thank you, Annelisa, for pointing out this detail. Her body is in the public light but her mind is hidden and remains her own. This interpretation is reinforced by our view of the back of her head, which keeps her identity private.
Your comment also serves as a reminder that a profession, whatever it may be, is only part of a person’s life and doesn’t define his or her character.

]]> By: susan http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/question-of-the-week-where-is-the-line-between-private-and-public/#comment-64157 susan Thu, 29 Sep 2011 22:55:31 +0000 http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/?p=5613#comment-64157 Is Lautrec really making this private moment public? Or is he simply reinforcing the de facto invisibility of women in society? I agree that by obscuring the woman's face, he makes us party to his male gaze. But is the effect of this approach benign, or even beneficial, as suggested by the assertion that he "preserves her privacy"? Or does it do something more destructive by presuming to invite the world into her boudoir? Is Lautrec really making this private moment public? Or is he simply reinforcing the de facto invisibility of women in society? I agree that by obscuring the woman’s face, he makes us party to his male gaze. But is the effect of this approach benign, or even beneficial, as suggested by the assertion that he “preserves her privacy”? Or does it do something more destructive by presuming to invite the world into her boudoir?

]]> By: Annelisa http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/question-of-the-week-where-is-the-line-between-private-and-public/#comment-64079 Annelisa Thu, 29 Sep 2011 20:30:55 +0000 http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/?p=5613#comment-64079 I had always seen this painting as a very intimate portrait. But after reading your post, Alice, I now feel that the angle of view (from above, as if we're inspecting the merchandise) does indeed suggest mastery or domination. I also notice that while the model's breast is theatrically spotlit, a technique you see in Lautrec's paintings of stage performers, her neck and the outline of her cheek recede into colored shadows. So to answer your question, maybe in this woman's case the answer to "Where is the line between private and public?" is, "the neck." I had always seen this painting as a very intimate portrait. But after reading your post, Alice, I now feel that the angle of view (from above, as if we’re inspecting the merchandise) does indeed suggest mastery or domination.

I also notice that while the model’s breast is theatrically spotlit, a technique you see in Lautrec’s paintings of stage performers, her neck and the outline of her cheek recede into colored shadows. So to answer your question, maybe in this woman’s case the answer to “Where is the line between private and public?” is, “the neck.”

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