Why does the gaze objectify women in art

In the first half of the 20th century, Suzanne Valadon and Marie Laurencin used their experiences as artists models to reclaim female representation of the body. By the standards of the time, they are not considered to be particularly feminine. In contrast, Laurencin and her work were considered feminine, but later scholars have re-positioned them in the context of her bisexuality, and as a means of subverting the patriarchal notion of femininity.

Her breasts hang to the floor, emphasising the female body as life giving and maternal, rather than sexualised. Her outstretched tongue is reminiscent of the Hindu goddess Kali, who can bring things to life or death.

Mary cowers from the gaping mouth that threatens to devour her, juxtaposing the ideals of the classical body with that of the grotesque. Their gazes intersect with one another, and are not staged for the benefit of the male gaze, really.

But doesn't a depiction of women and to that extent men too in art take its cue from social gender stereotypes? Like Mandapa Hoskote too strongly feels this is not something that can be associated with serious art. Latest News. T20 World Cup. Viral News. Home Lifestyle. Lifestyle Just Now. Are women in art pandering to the male gaze? Forgot your password?

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Miss You, Milan. Spread The Light. Dhaka Art Summit. Museum of Art and Archaeology. Max Klinger German, — Cassandra , ca. Bronze and marble. Thomas Hart Benton American, — Study for Susanna and the Elders , Oil on canvas. Lent by Tom and Carman Duvall. Pablo Picasso Spanish, — Untitled , Kenneth Hayes Miller American, — Surprised by the Hunt , ? Museum of Art and Archaeology, Gift of Dr.

Harry B. Cohen Vox dives into five of the works on display at Columbia's Museum of Art and Archaeology exhibit Objectified: The Female Form and the Male Gaze, which confronts the centuries-long tradition of seeing women as objects. Depictions of naked bodies in art, for example, can reveal a lot about the role women have historically played and the values of artists and audiences. The inspiration for Objectified rose from the MeToo Movement , which encouraged people to share their stories of sexual harassment and assault.

Alisa McCusker, the curator of the exhibit, compiled this collection to draw attention to issues of objectification, and Vox took a deeper look into three of the original works. The bust Cassandra depicts a character from Trojan War legend.