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Hortense is an art history professor like no other: irreverent, subversive, and determined to reveal the hidden erotic power of many European classical paintings.

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Depictions of Venus and nude women in general in art can be considered objectifying and insulting. In 1914, a suffragette even slashed a painting in the National Gallery in protest. But Venus is perhaps more inclusive than she looks at first glance. 

Depictions of nude women can be objectifying and insulting. But Venus is perhaps more inclusive than she looks

Aphrodite's Child

Olympia is a classic Venus with a 19th century twist. She caused quite a stir, as Édouard Manet painted her as a prostitute waiting for the client. 

Olympia is a classic Venus with a 19th century twist: she's a prostitute

Olympia by Édouard Manet

An author once described this work as a portrait of a woman done by a painter who had forgotten to paint the feet, legs, thighs, stomach, hips, chest, hands, arms, shoulders, neck and head. 

The Origin of the World by Gustave Courbet

At first glance, it's an image of innocence. A motherly milkmaid pouring out the milk in a kitchen, preparing snacks from our childhoods. But there's actually far more to her than meets the eye.

A famous image that at first glance looks totally innocent, but is in actual fact full of innuendo

The Milkmaid by Johannes Vermeer

Diana, the mythological goddess of the hunt, lives with her band of nymphs in the forest, free of men. Representations of her in painting are a contradictory mix of fantasy and repulsion. These nympths are both virgins and lesbians, naked and threatening, seductive and violent.

Representations of Diana in art are a contradictory mix of fantasy and repulsion. 

Diana and Callisto by Le Titien

Hercules is known as an allegory of strength and virility. But his love life doesn't quite match up to that, with the exception of his relationship with Xena, the warrior.

Hercules is known as an allegory of strength and virility. But his love life doesn't quite match up to that

Hercules and Omphale by Pierre Paul Rubens

Is Saint Thomas' touching of Jesus' wounds homoerotic? It's certainly in stark contrast to Mary Magdalene, who is told not to touch him and spends the rest of her life living in a cave.

Is Saint Thomas' touching of Jesus' wounds homoerotic?

The incredulity of Saint Thomas - Caravaggio

In Ovid's Metamorphoses, Jupiter transforms into a swan to have sex with Leda. In this work, the painter takes the opportunity to explore the sensuality of the encounter, working with colours and fabrics to convey pleasure.

The painter explores the sensuality of the encounter between Leda and Jupiter

Leda and the Swan by Paolo Veronese

In the 1980s, a Japanese television channel financed the restoration of the Sistine Chapel and during that restoration, workers discovered the garish colours and parts of the body that had since been covered up. So which version of the painting is more important to preserve?

The Sistine Chapel could have looked very different...

Original Sin by Michelangelo

Written in the Middle Ages, the accounts of the life and death of the saints occupy an important place in the Catholic tradition, especially accounts of their torture... JK, this is actually an episode about BDSM. But no worries! We're just doing soft stuff.

Look but Don't Touch

All videos

Aphrodite's Child

Aphrodite's Child

Look but Don't Touch

Olympia by Édouard Manet

Olympia by Édouard Manet

Look but Don't Touch

The Origin of the World by Gustave Courbet

The Origin of the World by Gustave Courbet

Look but Don't Touch

The Milkmaid by Johannes Vermeer

The Milkmaid by Johannes Vermeer

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Diana and Callisto by Le Titien

Diana and Callisto by Le Titien

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Hercules and Omphale by Pierre Paul Rubens

Hercules and Omphale by Pierre Paul Rubens

Look but Don't Touch

The incredulity of Saint Thomas - Caravaggio

The incredulity of Saint Thomas - Caravaggio

Look but Don't Touch

Leda and the Swan by Paolo Veronese

Leda and the Swan by Paolo Veronese

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Original Sin by Michelangelo

Original Sin by Michelangelo

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San Sebastian by Perugino

San Sebastian by Perugino

Look but Don't Touch