Comments on: Record-Breaking Painting Features Fat Woman

By: octopod

octopod — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:04:56 +0000

Honestly, if the subject had been “more sensual” it would be just one more picture of a woman posing for the male gaze, and that’s just not interesting at all anymore, even if the subject’s a naked fat woman.

By: Eleanor

Eleanor — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 21:03:18 +0000

This woman could be me lying on that couch and I love that so many of you said the same thing… nice to think about all of us looking similar since it is so rare to see this body type in media.

By: goodbyetoallfat

goodbyetoallfat — Sun, 18 May 2008 13:22:08 +0000

I was going to blog about this but it seems you have beaten me to it! Well I only just started my blog last night (about 1.00 am) so I am new to this blogging lark. But when I saw the story in one of our UK papers I thought that would make for an interesting subject as well.

Guess I will have to just keep blogging about myself, then, and hope (pray?) that someone out in cyberspace might notice me.

I know there is only one blog entry on my brand new blog so far, but I have LOTS more planned — just watch this space!

By: Alix

Alix — Sat, 17 May 2008 00:01:11 +0000

I love Lucian Freud’s style, but he does tend to depict women in a degrading way. They are almost always shown from above, so the viewer is literally looking down on them. They are also often on the floor or among rags (painting rags from his studio I’m assuming). I don’t think this one is much different. On the other hand, to the general public, the depiction of a fat woman exalted as a $33 million dollar piece of art, they may take the time to find beauty. And kudos to the model for being comfortable/confident enough to do this.

By: Sherie S

Sherie S — Fri, 16 May 2008 18:44:09 +0000

I think her body is interesting. One of the reasons it was so easy for me to embrace fat acceptance is that I have always found fat bodies more interesting than thin ones. No offense to anyone who is thin, it is just a personal preference. Red is not “better” than blue, brunettes are not “better” than red heads, it is all subjective. That being said, I would be more than happy to let my 47 year old 220 lbs body be used as a model for $33 millions dollars. Heck, I would settle for 1 million!

By: cathy

cathy — Thu, 15 May 2008 22:59:41 +0000

I don’t find it at all aesthetically pleasing- especially as I think he tried to make the couch and the woman look alike.

By: K

Thu, 15 May 2008 21:31:01 +0000

I think I probably don’t have that much of a reaction, because I’ve seen other paintings of her before.

It’s absolutely true that Freud paints thin women with exactly the same technique. I think he looks with a fairly dispassionate eye.

Personally, I wouldn’t want to be painted asleep (even if clothed), but I don’t think anyone looks terribly fetching asleep unless you happen to love them already.

By: lisa-marie

lisa-marie — Thu, 15 May 2008 17:28:14 +0000

I know this won’t be a politically correct comment, but that’s one hideous painting! I’m sorry but I just found it to be disgusting. That said, I’m a fat girl and I’m disgusted by the sight of my naked body as well, so I’m not just picking on Sue Tilley’s. I am happy to see many people on this board find it to be empowering or inspirational, but the only inspiration I’m getting from it is to spend the next five hours in the gym!

By: Alyssa

Alyssa — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:26:40 +0000

I think the painting and the woman are beautiful.

(The couch, however…lol!)

By: Moe

Moe — Thu, 15 May 2008 15:45:13 +0000

I like the painting. I agree it looks nothing like the model but I doubt the artist was going for a mirror image. Every time I look at I see something different that interests me.

Someone mentioned the hand holding the breast and I wondered about that too and another person mentioned their mother sleeping and I laughed because I also saw the same thing.

I think the body is very realistic. It could be mine lying there.