The Naked Child in Art: Joseph-Desire Court

One of the complaints made against Henson (this series is in response to the ignorance shown by the public at the time) was that he was fascinated with adolescent sexuality, with the implication that he was just an old perv. Another complaint was that you could see the model’s budding breasts, as if somehow, adolescent breasts are especially taboo. I’m not sure why adult breasts are acceptable, but adolescent breasts have to be kept hidden. But who said this was a rational argument? So now to Joseph-Désiré Court and Young Girl at the Scamander River or Nymph and Faun bathing.

The meaning is unambiguous. The girl is barely post-pubescent with ‘budding’ breasts. She is about to dip her toe in the waters of womanhood as the male figure disrobes her. Clearly it is about the loss of virginity and sexual awakening. As we will see this is a common theme in art. So why criticise Henson for choosing adolescent sexuality as a subject? It can only be ignorance about loss of sexual innocence as an accepted theme.