Crude Nude

Green energy might be the pipedream of the future, but right now, and for the foreseeable future, it is a political distraction. The world, and the world economy, moves on oil.
Almost every facet of human life is directly influenced by oil.

Apart from the obvious benefits it also comes at a price. Not least is the effect of pollution as a result of burning fossil fuel.
Perhaps a more emotive issue which haunts the oil industry is the industrial scale crude oil leak.
In recent years there have been some truly epic disasters involving the release of huge quantities of crude oil into the environment.
We are all familiar with the distressing images of wildlife smothered in an unforgiving coat of thick black slime. Imagine what it would be like if you were the recipient!

A less obvious effect of oil and its residual wealth is its influence on the art markets.
Countries that sit on vast geological reserves of oil are able to indulge the markets and acquire masterpieces at truly astronomical prices thereby permanently distorting the true value of any work.

One of the most iconic images in art is the nude.
This subject, more than any other, defines some of the truly great masterpieces throughout history.
Does it not seem at odds that something so aesthetically beautiful can be financed by a product which, superficially, is so comprehensively destructive and ugly.

Maybe if they were intimately combined the beauty of one would serve to dilute the ugliness of the other!

What price for painting a nude in oil?

Maybe an alternative image, perhaps, for crude oil?

Crude Nude
A figure study in oil

Taken directly on location from an exhibition at Leeson House, Langton Matravers, near Swanage, Dorset.
August 31st 2011