Controversy over warnings about famous painters' paintings containing... "hot" elements

The auction house even placed a warning label, "adult content," overlaid on the image of the sketch. To view the sketch, the public could only click on the warning label to see the artwork on the auction house's homepage.

This move sparked controversy because the sketch was seen as a work of art by a renowned painter, but the auction house's overly cautious handling of the work left many art researchers and the public feeling uncertain.

The auction house placed a warning label about "adult content" over the image of the sketch (Photo: Daily Mail).

We live in an era where much informational content often includes warning labels to help viewers prepare mentally. However, the use of warning labels on a work of art by a renowned painter has drawn much disapproval.

The sketch titled "The French Bed" was created by the Dutch painter Rembrandt in 1646. For many, the sketch itself wasn't particularly sensitive; it was Christie's auction house's handling of the matter that surprised many.

The sketch was put up for auction in a competition titled Old Masters I. The auction took place on December 7th. The work, The French Bed , sold for £189,000 (approximately 5.7 billion VND).

Previously, the auction house had set an estimated price in the range of £250,000-£400,000. Information about the sketch on the auction house's website stated that it was a rare sketch with "racy" elements ever created by the renowned painter Rembrandt.

The artwork "The French Bed" sold for £189,000 (approximately 5.7 billion VND) (Photo: Daily Mail).

The auction house emphasized that the sketch contained no... pornographic elements; on the contrary, the work possessed a sensual beauty and a touch of gentle humor. These very statements from the auction house made many people wonder about the decision to hide the painting and "shield" it with a warning about "adult content."

For paintings by renowned artists, especially masters in the history of world painting, the practice of "covering up," blurring, or adding warnings is seen by many as disrespectful to both the artist and the work itself.

British art historian Richard Morris told the media that he had never seen a warning of this kind appear on a painting put up for display or auction.

According to expert Morris, the work has a "racy" element, but doesn't depict anything overly sensitive: "This is a sketch that reflects the progressive, modern spirit of the time it was created. The sketch shows a very genuine love of life."

I think the renowned painter Rembrandt would surely laugh at the meticulousness that posterity has applied to his sketch."

Admire Rembrandt's painting "The Night Watch" ( Video : Sotheby's).

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