Botticelli’s "The Birth of Venus" and the Visual Politics of Desirability

This project examines three contemporary re-creations of Sandro Botticelli’s The Birth Venus, exploring how modern depictions the same image and story return to change vision. I juxtapose fifteenth-century painting with re-creations: Larry Moss’ Venus in Arigami (2009), Lady Gaga’s Applause music video (2013), David LaChapelle’s Rebirth photograph (2019). has timeless status as an icon beauty desirability, but she changes over time art. original was created during eruption humanistic culture Early Renaissance had radical controversial influence.[1] saw a rise ideas about religion, politics, science, that influenced artists push boundaries representability by seeing body for visual pleasure.[2] Due authority church, nude or partially subject censorship, erasure. Many artworks, including some Botticelli, were confiscated destroyed because they considered obscene.[3] private commission matter controversial. It hung above bed wealthy statesman Lorenzo de’ Medici.[4] Now is accessible public space, are original, politics have changed. Censorship female still exists, nudity continue be pushed moved art, discourses [1] “Renaissance Nude,” Getty Museum, Publications, https://www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/renaissance_nude/inner.html. [2] Ibid [3] [4] (“Medici: Godfathers Renaissance, PBS” 2023) “Medici: Renaissance., Botticelli,” PBS (Public Broadcasting Service), https://www.pbs.org/empires/medici/renaissance/botticelli.html