John Berger, Ways of Seeing
“Every woman’s presence regulates what is and is not ‘permissible’ within her presence. Every one of her actions – whatever its direct purpose or motivation – is also read as an indication of how she would like to be treated. If a woman throws a glass on the floor, this is an example of how she treats her own emotion of anger and so of how she would wish it to be treated by others. If a man does the same, his action is only read as an expression of his anger.” (pg.22)
People will always judge others based on how they present themselves or dress. When women are dressed up nicely, it’s for different reasons such as going to a special event, or they want to do it for themselves. However, some men see this as an invitation to catcall or insult them if they reject their advances.
“Women are depicted in a quite different way from men – not because the feminine is different from the masculine – but because the ‘ideal’ spectator is always assumed to be male and the image of the woman is designed to flatter him. If you have any doubt that this is so, make the following experiment. Choose from this book an image of a traditional nude. Transform the woman into a man. Either in your mind’s eye or by drawing on the reproduction. Then notice the violence which that transformation does. Not to the image, but to the assumptions of a likely viewer.” (pg. 22)
In my opinion, looking at paintings with a nude model has always made me uncomfortable. It feels intruding and to show that vulnerable part of yourself in front of somebody takes a lot of courage. Not every male artist depicts women sexually however in older paintings, it’s more common to find a female model nude than a male one.
Art That Looks at What Women See by Nina Siegal
“So is there such a thing as a “female gaze?” Ms. Vischer said that she ultimately concluded that there probably was no single way to define how women artists perceive their subjects. But she did concede: “The female artists’ gaze is shaped by their lived experiences, which are different for women and men.”
Overlooked No More: Ana Mendieta, a Cuban Artist Who Pushed Boundaries by Monica Castillo
“She invited an audience to the made-up crime scene, where she remained bent over the table with blood dripping down her legs and pooling at her feet as they discussed the incident. Photographs of the scene are still displayed in museum exhibits around the world, most recently at the Brooklyn Museum earlier this year.”
Ana Mendieta, Body Tracks, 1974
Leslie Ramirez, Mercy, 2024
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