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"Venus Pudica"
Here we find Venus, the goddess of sexual love, in a "pudica" pose - meaning that
she covers her nude body with her hands or a piece of drapery. The implication is that she just discovered someone spying
on her in the bath, and has hastily covered herself up in as modest a fashion as possible. This Classical pose exudes eroticism
as well as virtuous modesty; while trying to cover herself up, Venus calls attention to her nude body and the fact that she
is still partially exposed.
By virtue of being a "Venus Pudica," this Venus sculpture begs the viewer to become
involved in its story. Venus's bath has been invaded by an unknown person - perhaps it is the viewer, as Venus stands
alone and is not part of a larger figural group. Her reaction to the outside intruder connects the sculpture's space with
that of our own. And the fact that Venus's body twists in such a way that we must walk around it to view all angles brings
us even further into the world of the sculpture.
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