The Courtauld Gallery in London has sparked a controversy over a new “woke” label over the “male gaze” of a man toward a woman in a popular Manet painting.
The gallery hosts many of the U.K.’s top Impressionist paintings, including Édouard Manet’s 1882 work “A Bar at the Folies-Bergère” which received the recent warning.
'Manet masterpiece given 'MISOGYNY' alert over 'male gaze': London's Courtauld Gallery puts 'woke' warning beneath 1882 piece' https://t.co/XET33NVsbg @MailOnline
— Dr John Barry (@MalePsychology) April 12, 2022
The painting was called out over a barmaid being stared at by a male customer in the mirrored image. The updated information panel alongside the piece of artwork now notes the female’s “enigmatic expression is unsettling, especially as she appears to be interacting with a male customer.”
In an interview with The Telegraph, Art historian Ruth Millington called the labeling a “woke attempt to call out misogyny.” She added the new interpretation shifts the attention to the man’s gaze rather than the traditional understanding that has focused on the woman in Manet’s work.
“In a painting of multiple gazes, it’s unfair and misogynistic to emphasize the male perspective,” she added.
Feels good to have a feminist art history hot take in today's @Telegraph 💫 pic.twitter.com/8hamiKr8c8
— Ruth Millington (@ruth_millington) April 12, 2022
Manet’s painting was not the only artwork to receive a new woke label.
Paul Gauguin’s 1897 painting “Nevermore” also includes updated information that reveals the art depicts “one of several teenagers that he took on as ‘wives.’ The widespread racist fantasy of Tahitian girls as sexually precocious led to their unabashed exploitation.”
The updates are part of a reported £57 million refurbishment (over $74 million USD) at the London gallery.
The changes were reported shortly after a U.K. university course on acclaimed author Jane Austen was temporarily canceled.
Stirling University announced last week that it is replacing the traditional course with a course by Toni Morrison, an author known for writing about the African-American experience.
The school reportedly noted the change would help in the “decolonisation of the curriculum,” according to GBN, Britain’s News Channel.
J.K. Rowling, the bestselling U.K. author best known for her Harry Potter series, has also been under recent online attacks over her views. The Daily Wire recently reported:
Twitter finally took down a video posted by transgender activist and singer Faye Fadem with a “death threat” against J.K. Rowling after initially deciding it didn’t violate the site’s “safety policies.”
Fadem, who releases music under the name “Trust Fund Ozu,” posted a music video on April 1 in part directed at the famed “Harry Potter” author with the lyrics, “As I kill (Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminists)” and “J.K. I hope you fit in a hearse,” reported the New York Post in a piece published Monday.
Actor James Dreyfuss, known for his work in “Notting Hill,” called the video to Twitter’s attention and shared the response he said he got back from the social media site that it hadn’t violated the site’s “safety policies.”