Female Perception and Visual Delights

Possessing a creative spirit, I am constantly captivated by rich, evocative imagery. This exquisite painting by Juan Alcantara represents the essence of my blog ~ beauty, sensuality and an appreciation for the zaftig female form.

 

Tell me… when you viewed this painting on my header or in this post for the first time, what impression did it make upon you? Did you think to yourself…   

?

 

I read an interesting blog once about a full-figured woman who was on a quest to significantly lose weight. As a means to chronicle her journey, she volunteered to model for an art class. When she stood at the front of the class and disrobed, she anticipated shock or disgust from the roomful of students, but what she received was absolute exuberance. Immediately, the students began to draw her with enthusiasm and passion. Viewing the results of their work after, the woman was surprised to see her “overweight” body transformed into something curvaceous, vivacious and beautiful.

 

A time later, once shedding the weight, the woman returned to the class to model for the art students once more. This time, though, instead of exuberance, the students drew her to paper sluggishly, as though bored with their topic. Viewing the work afterwards, the now “skinny” woman was disheartened by the results: the drawings of her were lifeless, dull, her body portrayed as a stick figure with sharp lines and edges. The first drawings were beautiful… the latter ones felt empty.

 

An interesting thought, wouldn’t you agree? It’s a concept which leaves one questioning what is truly considered desirable ~ the woman with curves or the emaciated figure?

 

Why does society ~ the media ~ try to convince us it’s only one way?

 

Throughout my blog here, I intend to investigate and negate the argument that emaciated is better than full-figured, and also that, whether they are willing to admit it or not, deep down inside, men appreciate women who A.) are comfortable in their own skin and B.) possess curvaceous assets to hold onto.