Modern Art
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The new exhibit in the Tang Museum, Re- Visions, revises existing art or familiar imagery in pop culture, changing the significance of the piece in order to convey an artist's view on society and how society has treated these images. The piece entitled, The Modern Art is a rethinking of the Peter Paul Rubens painting Samson and Delilah, and offers a more contemporary message of the empowerment of women and acts as a commentary of modern society's ignorance of art.
The original Baroque painting was made by Rubens in 1610 and is a depiction of the biblical myth of the same name. The myth goes that Samson was a victorious warrior, whose great strength resided in his hair. Upon falling in love with Delilah, he told her the origin of his strength, and one night she betrayed him and cut off all his hair, rendering him unable to fight.(Baudouin, 303)
The painting itself shows Delilah seducing Samson into a submissive pose while a servant behind them cuts a lock of Samson's hair. Thematically, the painting portrays Delilah as superior to Samson, despite his physical prowess, in that she knows that men are receptive to sexual temptation. She is shown wearing a red dress with her breasts barren, an object of sexuality. At the time, the Catholic Church had to endorse all art that was made and this painting was no exception. This painting and many others painted around the time were meant to teach a moral lesson; that which is found in Ruben's piece is, directed toward men, that temptations and indulgence can be detrimental to one's well being...