The artwork titled “Bum,” created by Pauline Boty in 1966, is a notable piece within the Feminist Art and Pop Art movements. Classified under the genre of nude painting (nu), this artwork exemplifies the artist’s engagement with contemporary culture and gender dynamics.
In the artwork, a prominent visual element is a close-up depiction of a human buttocks, centrally featured against a vibrant and neatly stylized background. The composition is framed within a theatrical setting, indicated by ornamental and decorative elements in the upper section, underlining the performative and perhaps voyeuristic aspects of the human form. The word “BUM” is strikingly emblazoned at the bottom of the canvas in bold, capitalized letters, reinforcing the subject matter with a graphic punch typical of Pop Art aesthetics. The combination of bold typography and intimate portrayal of the nude speaks to both feminist contentions and the art movement’s inclinations toward media and advertisement influences.
