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Riff316 t1_jd3frui wrote

He looks good here, compared to how he looks now. What’s the point in a flattering portrait? I mean, this is damn sexy compared to how he actually looks.

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Riff316 t1_jd589ok wrote

Either the people downvoting me can’t tell that I’m making fun of Putin, don’t like that I’m making fun of Putin, or actively support him. So I guess downvote away? He’s an authoritarian who’s always been obsessed with his image. Fuck him, his policies, and anyone who supports him.

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turningsteel t1_jd6bdnd wrote

I think it’s that you can’t detach your view of the art from your political stance.

Most people dislike Putin I think, but the fact that the artist can’t express his vision (portraying Putin as lean, determined, and frankly terrifying) without you criticizing because he doesn’t look like your perception of Putin as weak or impotent (I presume?)— that’s what is getting the downvotes.

I mean, he is portrayed as a ghoul here basically, it’s in no way flattering.

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Riff316 t1_jd6cao3 wrote

Even in your commentary there’s political context. What makes him seem determined and terrifying? His shirtless striding and horse riding skills or his determined and terrifying acts against his own people and those in Ukraine. To say that a painting depicting Putin as a monstrous figure in the year 2023 is NOT political is just boring and somehow pedantic. Yes not all art is political all the time, but a painting of a zombified Putin set against an apocalyptic landscape released during a war he started is not political? Really?

Also, saying Putin is flattered here is clearly sarcasm. The man has puncture wounds in his chest. Does we really always need the /s?

I was trying to say that real life Putin looks gross and use something like litotes or hyperbole to ironically say that he looks good here. Do you honestly think any rational human would look at this art and go, “Dang! He looks great!”? It’s an insult. The man, like every other authoritarian, is obsessed with his appearance. It brings a modicum of joy to know that he would be even a little annoyed by comments about his looks.

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