In Eye of the Beholder

“Nymph and Satyr,” a little statue of extraordinary grace and beauty, was created more than 200 years ago.

Residing in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York it evoked nothing but admiration until this month, when as a result of its re-creation in advertising it is judged to be prurient by Bruce Horovitz, the Times’ marketing writer (Feb. 3, “Selling Power of Sex is Invading the Ads of Staid Industries”).

Doubtless he would find Fragonard and Tiepolo, artists of the same period, equally objectionable. Next month, the campaign for Outdoor Products uses Rodin’s “The Thinker.” I wonder what Horovitz will have to say about that.

Perhaps what really disturbs him is a thinly disguised prejudice against Satyrs. Isn’t it time that they come out of the woods? It’s almost as if we are trying to pretend they don’t exist.

BRYAN HARDWICK

Palos Verdes Estates