Prostitution in Art – The Illicit Muses of Artists,

It is well known that several famous painters have portrayed prostitution in art; from Manet to van Gogh, artists who have depicted prostitutes in their works are famous. This is a very common practice among the painters of yesteryear, because in order to capture the body of a naked woman, it was not easy to get someone who was willing to take off their clothes as an escort.

Before, it was difficult for a respectable woman to undress for anyone other than her husband; so the artists had to resort to people who could let them see their naked body, the easiest and most frequent being a prostitute. Most of the time, the hiring of the services of these precursors to the escorts, were for purely artistic purposes; the painter sought to be able to capture in his paintings the anatomical silhouettes of his models.

prostitution in art

As we have indicated before, prostitution in art was a common resource among painters of yore; Even today, there are artists who resort to these resources to be able to capture their art from a more vivid and natural point of view.

Edouard Manet – Olympia

While it is known that the muse to create a olympia it was not a prostitute, but Victorine-Louise Meurent, a famous model among the artists of the time; the very image of the woman within the painting is. olympia, an oil painting on canvas, was first exhibited in Paris in 1865, causing a stir among Parisians at the time.

The position of his body, his cold look, the indifferent way with which he looks at the bouquet that his servant is holding; as well as the black ribbon tied around her neck and the orchid in her hair, clearly hint at Olympia's profession, even her name is associated with prostitutes.

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec – La Toilette

Toulouse-Lautrec was a regular fan of prostitutes, it is known that he was a frequent customer of the Moulin Rouge and of various brothels in the area. The artist always painted the daily life of the trade; In her works, she never demonized or satanized prostitution in art, she painted and shared the social relationships that existed between the practitioners of prostitution.

the toilette It is a piece painted in oil on cardboard, inspired by Carmen Gaudin, a laundress by trade who worked as a prostitute to survive. In the work, the artist reflects a bit of this life, capturing in pastel colors a woman who lacks clothes and who is surrounded by objects that are part of her daily life.

Vincent van Gogh – Temple

It is not common to associate Vincent van Gogh with prostitutes, his self-portraits, sunflowers and his starry night sky being more relevant; however, like many other artists of his day, van Gogh painted prostitutes. Temple she was homeless and pregnant by the time the artist met her; to everyone's surprise, Van Gogh welcomed the prostitute, her daughter and the later son she would have.

The painter detailed the woman with impudence, he painted her doing different everyday things; such as feeding your child, smoking a cigarette or just appreciating your nakedness.

Henri Gervex–Rolla

Gervex was one of the artists who most captured prostitution in art. Most of his works were based on myths and stories, being a frequent excuse to contemplate the bodies of naked women. Rolla is inspired by a poem by Alfred de Musset.

rolla It was an oil painting on canvas that caused a stir since its conception in 1878. Crossed out as immoral, the scene suggests that Rolla, a young hedonist, has just had sex with an adolescent prostitute; it is understood that she is a prostitute by the different objects that surround the scene, such as the corset and the undone clothes. This scandal helped the work to be popularized.

Pablo Picasso – Les Demoiselles D'Avignon

Picasso's style was always different from that of his contemporaries. Les Demoiselles d'Avignon It is an uncomfortable work, aggressive to the eye and comforting. This oil-on-canvas painting reflects the disjointed two-dimensional shapes of the female body when undressed; she is totally deprived of the sensuality and beauty of her muses.

Picasso's inspiration for the creation of this work was “primitive” art, the incoherent manner of forms. It is specified that part of his inspiration was an exhibition of Iberian and African masks that were on display in the city of Paris at that time; being reflected in his work in the faces of the prostitutes.

Conclusion

As you may have noticed, prostitution in art has been of great interest to various renowned artists. Famous for drawing silhouettes and sensuality, artists have gone hand in hand with the oldest profession in the world, all for the love of art.

If you are interested in learning more about historical aspects of the escort trade, we invite you to read about the Most famous prostitutes in history; as well as the Sex, prostitutes and brothels: the old West.