Art Research Paper

Censorship in Visual Arts

Censorship in visual art started in the 1800’s. Since, there has been many different occasions and situations where it has been brought back up. In art many people have their own opinion on a painting, drawing, statue and many more pieces of art. Many artist and their work has been judged by the public. Artists create pieces of art that has their emotions, feelings, and their own unique style in it, but sometimes people are offensive about it. “What boundaries, if any, should be imposed on artist? How much of the public’s reaction should artist take into consideration? Are there works that are no longer creative, cultural expressions, but offensive, obscene artifacts meant only to shock?”, (Mapplethorpe, 209). These are many questions that are asked when it comes to art.

The first occasion where a piece of art was judged happened in 1857. It was the famous statue of David. This statue began all of the questions that went through the public’s minds on what the boundaries should be in visual art. This statue was life size and was sent as gift to Queen Victoria of English, from a Italian nobleman. Queen Victoria was not very accepting of the gift from the Italian nobleman. When she seen the statue in the crate it was delivered in, she become shocked by its nudity. Officials commissioned a sculptor to create a large white fig leaf to cover the statues genitals. The leaf was removable, museum officials would put the leaf on when visitors came, and as they departed they would take it off again, because of the sensitive ladies. Queen Victoria and several other women would take offense to the famous statue of David. This is the situation in where the public questions weather or not boundaries should be set on art.

The great statue of David was not the only statue that was covered with a fig leaf, there were many other statues in the 19th century that were cover as well, and was a huge deal then. Many statues were placed with fig leafs...