Post 7

This article is very different from others we have read. It focuses mainly on how in the films Artemisia, and Camille Claudel, “art is progeny of sexual passion…”. In these films, the two women artists are not just shown as passionate for their work, but their love for art turns into passion for a man.
Each young woman in the two films worked under an older man, who serves as their mentor. He teaches them the ways of art and how to develop their skills, and at the same time these men open up these women sexually. Why do both these films link art with sex?
In Artemisia, art is clearly sexualized in the film and the article discusses specific moments in the film where this is apparent. The way the models in the film are shown through the camera lens are highly sexualized, as well as the lessons that Tassi gives Artemisia. When they go to the shore to learn about perspective, he makes Artemisia close her eyes and picture a scene. His tone of voice is a deep, soft hypnotic tone and it is almost as if he is seducing her. Towards the end of the film, the focus is not on art anymore but the sexual relationship between Tassi and Artemisia.
In Camille Claudel, the focus is on lust and art. Camille has two passions, one for art and the other for her mentor Auguste Rodin. The article calls their relationship “mud lust”. I took this as being a combination of their passion for each others talent and a passion for each other sexually.
Even though we have only seen a little bit of this film, I personally like it better already. There is more of a focus on the art that Camille and Auguste produce. The camera focuses on their craft and there are a lot of scenes showing the work process and how much goes into a piece of art. The models are less sexualized in the film as well. Even though art is at times sexualized in this film, it is less than Artemisia. “Art is shown as a product of passion.” For example, there is a scene after Victor Hugo dies where Artemisia comes to Rodin’s studio. She lies on the model platform, face down, to pose for him. He then comes up to her and out of sorrow and lust, kisses her neck. Another example is when the two are sitting together in Paris. He caresses her face lovingly and sexually, and then a flash of him molding a face out of clay appears. Something sexual literally becomes a piece of art.
I understand why art and sex or passion are easily linked in films. Artists have deep passion for their work. It consumes them and it becomes their very being. I believe that sculpting, as opposed to painting, can be sexualized more, which is surprising because the film Artemisia, is more sexualized then Camille Claudel. With sculpting, it is all about touching and molding. It is a “…passion for touching, feeling, and making that is tactile and dirty.” The art itself becomes “highly eroticized.”