Fulcrum 1999

Editor: So, here we have Jenny Saville's "Fulcrum," from 1999. It’s an oil and acrylic painting, and it's... intense. The sheer physicality of the bodies is almost overwhelming. What are your initial thoughts on it? Curator: It’s fascinating, isn’t it? Saville positions us to confront the often-uncomfortable realities of the body, especially the female body, outside of the male gaze. Think about the historical context of the nude in art; how often have we seen women depicted passively, as objects? Saville subverts that. Editor: Yes, it definitely challenges those traditional portrayals. The bodies are presented in a way that feels very raw and unapologetic. Is she commenting on societal expectations around female body image? Curator: Absolutely. Saville directly confronts those expectations. The title "Fulcrum," meaning a point on which something balances, is crucial. What do you think is being balanced, or perhaps unbalanced, here? Editor: Maybe it's the weight of societal pressures versus the reality of diverse bodies. It feels like a reclamation of sorts. Also, there's a political element too. She is known for challenging beauty standards… Curator: Exactly! It forces us to question who has the power to define beauty and why. Saville gives agency to bodies often marginalized or rendered invisible. How does her use of impasto and color contribute to this? Editor: I see, with her deliberate use of impasto to emphasizes the physicality of the figures she brings the viewers eye in a way that may challenge viewers' expectations. Also the colour feels deliberately subdued? Curator: That's very well observed, the colour pallette doesn't aim to hide any aspect of the body; it's rawness if shown directly! How else do you feel about this artwork? Editor: Thinking about the perspective and her technique has made me re-evaluate my initial reaction, I see now that she subverts art-historical tradition to comment on societal constructs around beauty and the power of the female gaze. Curator: Precisely. It’s a powerful demonstration of how art can be a catalyst for social change and critical dialogue.