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Aside from the written word, how cool is this mans work! The downside of posting this, is it will make mine look loose and inept; regardless, here it is.

 

Well said, by someone who obviously appreciates his work. For me there is a certain attraction to how Eakins presented a subject, especially his formal, sometimes gritty but always dignified approach. The essence comes through loud and clear......a true realist or how I would interpret the meaning of the word "realist" regardless of how refined or abstract its portrayed. As a youngster I only studied the images! Art classifications still leave me scratching my head in wonderment....I have a tendency to simplify it to single descriptive words or look at the pictures and move on! In truth, unless I know the artist, Im less interested in the artist and more the results as in Eakins. However, as Ive come to find out, the man was more than that!

I came across another interesting site while looking for this image of The Swimming Hole. The other painting Im sure was in my book. Im also sure it first got my attention because kids werent allowed to see naked bodies....we did in art books tho:=) However, thinking about it - we did skinny dip in the summer (no girls allowed). We did swim naked in the school pool; we did, because in those days suits were not permitted. So perhaps this painting has a normal relevance for a certain age group, but not today or how its generally interpreted, apparently by some of our learned scholars and critics. I wouldnt have associated it with sexual content until after reading this by Louis Torres , basically comments about many of Eakins works over a long period of time and more specifically defending this painting and Eakins fascination with the male nude. I dont understand the taboo of painting a male figure - its like having salt without pepper.....its narrow thinking and censorship, but thats our world.

One of the things I found much more fascinating than the speculative maligning of Eakins, was Eakins use of photography, photo projection, and his role in moving pictures. But, perhaps even more than that, how it negatively impacted his legacy, even today! Including this same painting below, in some learned circles viewed as "non art" because of its use. Obviously I dont agree  - I for one, am not giving up my camera, Photoshop, salt and pepper or sugar and cream! Oh Yes! That also includes butter.......some of gods little pleasure are worth the price!