The Fig Leaf Campaign
ATC 2.5 x 3.5 inches
colored pencil
I have to lay blame/give credit to my husband for my interpretation of this weeks word. He has a habit of referring to male anatomy as "equipment." So, in order to keep my blog (cough) "school appropriate" I thought I would touch on a bit of art history associated with the topic of male anatomy and censorship.
The addition of fig leaves to anatomically complete nude sculptures began in the mid 16th century as a reaction to Michelangelo's David and the Sistine Chapel Frescos. A man by the name of Cardinal Carafa, led the campaign to cover nude figures in paintings and sculptures with a fig leaf. An apron of fig leaves was the biblical symbolic clothing of Adam when he first recognized his own nakedness in the book of Genesis. Unfortunately hundreds if not thousands of works of art were permanently damaged in the process of removing the offending appendages and covering the wounded artwork with plaster or bronze fig leaves.
Amazingly many sculptures have since been reunited with their original "equipment".
My mind immediately went to the other "equipment" too but I forgot all about the practice of strategically placed fig leaves and felt it might be safer to just paint a digger.
ReplyDeleteHeh, Sally, I think that's what entered a lot of minds. It's nice to see euphemisms. Nice fig leaf by the way.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good work, very fresh.
like your interpretation:)
ReplyDeleteWhat a hilarious (and sad) take on the theme!
ReplyDeletethanks for stopping by Dabbled and your nice comment on my IF for this week. - it's very nice to meet you!
lol! Funny! so what is behind that equipment...ahhh another equipment I guess! lol!
ReplyDeleteHaha, funny interpretation! Nice drawing.
ReplyDeletethe one thing blogger is missing is a facebookesque "Like" button. Love this!
ReplyDelete"removing appendages" is probably never a good thing!! It IS tricky having to have your blog be "school safe" or safe for people you know professionally, isn't it.. Good job.
ReplyDelete