Teh One Who Knocks
12-04-2017, 12:04 PM
By Dailymail.com Reporter
https://i.imgur.com/BxEjmcE.png
A New York City woman has started a petition to ask the Metropolitan Museum of Art to remove a Balthus painting.
The painting, Mia Merrill argues, depicts a young girl in a sexually suggestive pose from a man's point of view.
The painting, called Thérèse Dreaming, shows a girl sitting on a chair with her knee up, which exposes her underwear.
https://i.imgur.com/95wa9V7.png
On a Care2 petition that has so far amassed more than 6,000 signatures, Merrill wrote: 'It is disturbing that the Met would proudly display such an image.
'They are a renowned institution and one of the largest, most respected art museums in the United States.
'The artist of this painting, Balthus, had a noted infatuation with pubescent girls and this painting is undeniably romanticizing the sexualization of a child.'
Her petition continues: 'Given the current climate around sexual assault and allegations that become more public each day, in showcasing this work for the masses, The Met is romanticizing voyeurism and the objectification of children.'
She concludes: 'Ultimately, it's a small ask in consideration of how expansive their art collection is (they can easily hang up another painting), how overtly sexual the painting is, and the current news headlines highlighting a macro issue about the public health and safety of women.'
The Met, one of the largest art museums in the world, held a 2013 exhibition of Balthus paintings titled 'Balthus: Cats and Girls - Paintings and Provocations'.
The exhibition was prefaced with a warning that some of its content might be 'disturbing'.
Balthus, born Balthasar Klossowski de Rola (1908-2001), was a European painter particularly known for his portraits of girls and young women.
https://i.imgur.com/BxEjmcE.png
A New York City woman has started a petition to ask the Metropolitan Museum of Art to remove a Balthus painting.
The painting, Mia Merrill argues, depicts a young girl in a sexually suggestive pose from a man's point of view.
The painting, called Thérèse Dreaming, shows a girl sitting on a chair with her knee up, which exposes her underwear.
https://i.imgur.com/95wa9V7.png
On a Care2 petition that has so far amassed more than 6,000 signatures, Merrill wrote: 'It is disturbing that the Met would proudly display such an image.
'They are a renowned institution and one of the largest, most respected art museums in the United States.
'The artist of this painting, Balthus, had a noted infatuation with pubescent girls and this painting is undeniably romanticizing the sexualization of a child.'
Her petition continues: 'Given the current climate around sexual assault and allegations that become more public each day, in showcasing this work for the masses, The Met is romanticizing voyeurism and the objectification of children.'
She concludes: 'Ultimately, it's a small ask in consideration of how expansive their art collection is (they can easily hang up another painting), how overtly sexual the painting is, and the current news headlines highlighting a macro issue about the public health and safety of women.'
The Met, one of the largest art museums in the world, held a 2013 exhibition of Balthus paintings titled 'Balthus: Cats and Girls - Paintings and Provocations'.
The exhibition was prefaced with a warning that some of its content might be 'disturbing'.
Balthus, born Balthasar Klossowski de Rola (1908-2001), was a European painter particularly known for his portraits of girls and young women.