Blog Post # 3 "Phryne revealed before the Areopagus"

This representational style is idealized, it shows us Phryne's body as a hope or ambition to one day have that beautiful body. In 1861 Jean-Leon Gerome, created a famous painting called "Phryne revealed before the Areopagus." Phryne was a women in her era constantly criticized of sleeping with various men. This shows how only women are always being punished for actions that if men did, everyone will call it normal, even to this day. Women are supposed to be this chaste, angelic and pure object, and in those times Phryne was neither. In this painting she is standing in front of the highest governmental council of ancient Athens, she was being trialed for impiety. To deepen her shame the verdict tore her dress in front of everyone and they were amazed at her perfect body complexion. According to the jury, they decided to relieve her charges because of pity. To be nude in front of a crowd without your consent it must be degrading. It is true but its not what Jean-Leon Gerome wants you to see. Phryne is being looked as a perfect woman in this painting, her body is admired by everyone in the jury, their face expressions are evident. John Berger believes that "To be naked is to be oneself. A naked body has to be seen as an object in order to become a nude. (The sight of it as an object simulates the use of it as an object.) Nakedness reveals itself. Nudity is placed on display....Nudity is a form of dress". If you expose someone nude, you don't really see the person standing in front of you, just like when Phryne was being judged by the jury. Instead they looked at her body an object and pardon her.  If we didn't knew Phryne's background we will still think of her dazzling and magnificent body that bewitches anyone who sees it. In a painting, perfection of a woman like Phryne makes her desired and idealized.