āWrong Centuryā by Tomas Kucerovsky
Ok. This image has been making the rounds on Tumblr and Facebook. Itās a bit disappointing that so many people have jumped on the āoh this is so amazingā bandwagon without realizing how problematic this image is.
The problem lies with the painting used in the last panel. Of all the paintings in the world that could have been used, THAT is what the artist chose?
Let me explain: That painting is āRape of the Daughters of Leucippusā by Peter Paul Rubens.
Itās a comic⦠Promoting body positivity and acceptance⦠With a famous painting depicting rape! Not just rape, but abduction and forced marriage, as well!
OK. If it was me, and it had been my comic, I think I would have at least attempted to not ruin the message I was aiming to send out by doing at least SOME research on the painting I plan to use. There is no excuse. This is not some scribble that some nobody made in some dusty, hidden away sketchbook. It is a famous painting made by one of the most famous painters of all time. The name of the painting ALONE makes it a bad example to use.
If the artist had wanted to not make the comic hypocritical, he could have easily chosen a painting depicting a heavy set person being adored, admired, or praised. There are more than enough options out there. For fucks sake, even Peter Paul Rubenās painting āThe Three Gracesā would have been a better option!
So please, people, think before you jump on bandwagons.