What is erotic art?

When the definition of ‘art’ alone is enough to incite debate, the definition of what constitutes ‘erotic art’ was always going to be an exciting and many layered discussion.

Art is, at its core, designed to give the viewer an emotional response. Erotic art is intended to arouse desire at the very least, but deciding what is erotic, what is pornographic and what is neither is a question that depends upon the viewer and their personal tastes.

The classical nudes of the 1870s would be considered art by most people today, however, in a time when women wore their hair in rigid styles and dressed in corsetry, covered from ankle to neck, these nude, passionate women with flowing hair and flushed cheeks were considered the height of eroticism for the age. Now, when standards of dress are relaxed and we are all familiar with seeing sex used as a sales tool, the concept of erotic art is a little more subjective.

A photograph or technical drawing can be graphic but without the creativity of the artist behind it, is does little to incite emotion. There is no sensuality in, for example, an anatomical textbook. Sergio Bleda’s “Too Much” and Rick van den Berg’s “Goldfingering” feature graphic sexuality but their own interpretations add interest to their pieces. “Too Much” is a drawing with a frenzied feel, making use of sepia tones and white highlights, while “Goldfingering” uses soft, jewel colours with seamless blending inside a heart shaped frame. Each piece is as different as could be imagined- the two artists have interpreted eroticism in their own ways.

Art can be erotic without necessarily being explicit- Susan Diamond’s art is exciting and sensual, using colour schemes and poses to play with the power dynamic between subject and viewer. “Luminous Intent” and “Alien Intrusion” use bright neons against black backgrounds, evoking a sense of danger. The colours used are similar to those displayed by poisonous creatures and the subjects are, while nude, in positions which suggest they hold the sexual power here: it’s up to the viewer to interpret the scene.

Georgia O’Keeffe is best known for her colourful paintings which are described by most as ‘flowers’ but are very evocative of female genitalia. It is for the viewer to choose how to interpret the subject. While a little clearer than O’Keeffe, “Sensitive Spot”, by Malgorzata Jablonska makes use of the slightly abstract in a mixed media piece. The eye focuses on the flying insect featured, which then points toward the female form. 

Whether explicit or implied, graphic or abstract, erotic art gives the viewer a glimpse into another world; a view of an intimate scene or a perspective of the subject which most people would not usually see, whether physical or emotional. It is this shared intimacy which makes erotic art so powerful and captivating.