The concept of nudes being art just skyrocketed to a whole other level.
The Louvre is suing Pornhub for “unauthorized” use of their classic masterworks in a new project that sees the recreation of the classics- in a pornographic context. Art kinks, or art erotica are nothing new, however, the availability to access such wasn’t available on Pornhub according to an ambassador. The Louvre and another gallery aren’t buying it, however, or at least they didn’t give the go-ahead.
Here’s what happened.
Pornhub, which was the 10th most visited website in the world according to visualcapitalist as of January this year, launched an interactive “Classic Nudes” website. The “Classic Nudes” project features real-life recreations of some of the world’s most iconic artworks.
Art Kink?
The “Classic Nudes” project even went as far as to offer a virtual tour of museums, including the Louvre (Paris, France), the MET, the Prado (Madrid, Spain) Uffizi Gallery (Florence, Italy) and the National Gallery (London, England). Then goes on to show “pornographic recreations” of the sexual fantasies around these works on display.
The porn actors would re-envision the classic artworks as “jumping-off points for sexually explicit content,” writes Observer.
Titan, Botticelli Cézanne and Rembrant were going to be noticed like never before, but two museums are not having it.
The Louvre (Paris) and Uffizi (Florence) have filed lawsuits demanding the works be taken down. Their argument is predominantly centred around rights infringements, and the fact that permission was allegedly not granted.
“In Italy, the cultural heritage code provides that in order to use images [frm a museum] for commercial purposes, it’s necessary to have [the museum’s] permission, which regulates the methods and sets the relative fees to be paid,” a spokesperson for Uffizi told the Daily Beast.
Uffizi went on to express that it’s about the museum granting authorisation, which “would hardly have been issued in this case.”
The Louvre, as per The Daily Beast is, far from excited about the project. “Pornhub has heard from our lawyers,” said a Louvre spokesperson.”We expect the works to be removed at once.”
Pornhub’s idea
“There’s a treasure trove of erotic art around the world- depicting nudes, orgies and more- that’s not available on Pornhub brand ambassador Asa Akira according to Complex.
“These pre-internet art pieces are currently sitting in museums, which we are now finally able to start visiting again as covid restrictions are starting to lift. So as people start to head back to The Louvre or The Met, they can simply open Classic Nudes and I’ll be their guide. Time to ditch those boring self-tour recordings and enjoy every single brushstroke of those erotic masterpieces with me.”
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As Observer writes, “it could certainly be argued that a clear continuum exists between unclothed Titian muses and 21st-century graphic imagery.”
Observer also comments that “Whether or not Pornhub’s experiment in highbrow smut is to your taste, it must be conceded that the platform’s new venture spotlights some truly creative copywriting.”
Picture: The birth of Venus, Sandro Botticelli (1484-1485)/ Uffizi Gallery