Please check out @anneherrero in Instagram btw!! (I promise this isn't sponsored)

The ladder is likely referencing social status. She's at the bottom of the ladder -- the lowest, the "poor class" -- who have the least access to safe abortion. That's likely why the woman had to do this operation on herself in the first place. She's poor, so she can't travel to where it's legal to have an abortion.

I had an aunt in Colombia that was married to an abusive alcoholic with 2 babies. She was working 2 jobs as a cleaner to support them. She ended up pregnant again. She knew she couldn’t afford to have another child, she couldn’t even afford to be pregnant and continue to work. As abortion was illegal in Colombia, she went to a back alley “partera” who went at her with a hanger. She died after a few days of immense suffering, pain and bleeding. Her children ended up technically orphaned going from couch to couch, as their father abandoned them. Abortion is healthcare and should be available to everyone. Ironic that abortion is now legal in Colombia.

I'm a 20yo male and I live in Iran and I simply can not stress how often this topic comes to my mind, despite my circumstances, one might think. On one end one takes into consideration how it may often appear as wrong to take a fetuses life, either out of necessity, or one's facilties. but when you think deeper about situations like this there not only are numerous variable where, upon similar instances, need taking into consideration. Like how long after pregnancy one may require abortion or under what circumstances was some made pregnant, ( I express as such for where I live even under most severest instances, rape, accident, genetical malformity of the baby, etc... one who is pregnant is obliged to deliver their babies), and that is, as I understand it, unbearable and unjust. Also, seeing as how in most third-world countries, a great deal of people Oftener than intended, don't live so prosperous lives so to add an unintended baby to their long list of expenses, an unintended baby could bring disasters that are unimaginable for the whole family, unlike what is normally thought.

Amazing video, I'm actually a student under Anne and she is definitely a voice we need in the contemporary art world. She's such an inspiration, especially as a female painter myself. Her skill is truly exceptional!

thank you for saying the video is not unbiased, im sick of people being so obsessed with being unbiased. believe in something, be shameless and stick to it. when it comes to something like abortion, playing devils advocate does absolutely nothing but take away womens bodily autonomy.

This is an example for when art can make a difference and be a force for change. I'm 58 years old and I can't believe we're having this conversation again. We all thought women won. Now we're back to 1950.

Another possible explanation for the nakedness may be a rejection from society. As you said "A dangerous operation on herself, by herself, because nobody...could do it for her". In this moment she is rejected by professionals and criminalised by society. Completely and utterly isolated (if you want to extend this symbolism, she too has been aborted from the help which society promises its people). She will perform the operation on herself and recover by herself. The absence of clothing symbolises a detachment from societal conformity, since society has turned its back on her. She sees no need for clothing as she faces these struggles alone.

The topic of this video is REALLY IMPORTANT, ENGAGING & THOUGHT-PROVOKING. For me, the MOST MOVING was Anne Herrero's "State's Rights".

When my great grandfather went to WW2 he didn't know that his wife was pregnant. She didn't want to keep the child, which is understandable ofc, so she had the hanger type of procedure, made by herself. She died. My great grandfather only found out years later when he escaped from Siberia and got home. Later he met my great grandmother. So that's how I'm here, existing and admiring your inteligent and important videos. Thank you, really, for each one of them ❤

Sex education should be mandatory. And video like this must be shown for everyone to understand the gravity of the subject. As long as we make pregnancy and abortion just a women's problem, this heart-wrenching procedure will continue to take place. We MUST make boys/ men take full responsibility (legally +financially) of a pregnancy they cause, as much as their partner, and teach them what pregnancy and abortion is about, as much as we teach women, as they all enter early adulthood. To all boys/men- do no take sexual activities lightly, it has dire consequences for other human beings.

The comparison that came to my mind was that of a dead or wounded soldier after a battle.

3:58 the fact it's titled "States' Rights" gave me chills. The chair, also. The fact that we haven't come nearly as far as we ideally would in terms of recognizing womens' bodily autonomy is definitely a worthy subject of art to convey the ideas and hopelessness within. Also, a woman not being treated for cancer because of the zygote is eerily prescient, I feel I could read that sort of thing today and think "yep, that's just where we're at." I hope that art can help us not resort to past times when things were even worse.

I would hardly describe those against abortion as pro-life.

One of my favorite channels

The artwork makes me sob too. Because once meanings do set in, and you look closely, there's this pain is knowing that could be anyone.

Reproductive rights are a topic that is extremely close to my heart, with myself being passionately pro-choice of course. I appreciate you for making this video!

States rights makes me think of the photo of Gerri Santoriwho was photographed in a motel room, naked and dead following an illegal termination. Thank you for this highly important episode. Living in the U.S. right now is pretty terrifying.

people who dismiss entire bodies of media based solely on the time they were made in baffle me to no end

Roe V. Wade’s repeal is the reason I decided to go through sterilization. Technically, I still have a 1% chance of pregnancy because I still have ovaries and a uterus, just cut and sealed fallopian tubes, which even that 1% has terrified me. I’m 21 and I signed the consent for sterilization the same week as my birthday. I didn’t ever really worry about pregnancy since I’m very stringent about protection and my only sexual partner did not have the ability to knock me up. Having access to a safe abortion in case my precautions failed was a comfort I never thought about at the time but I haven’t dared to have sex since my state made it criminal for doctors to even acknowledge the procedure even exists. It’s so bad here that you can’t advertise or say condoms can be used as a birth control (aid) because it’s considered abetting abortion, they can only be labeled as STD prevention. I know just in my area the sterilization rate has spiked because pregnancy would be life ruining for so many people. Tbh, sterilization felt less like a choice and more like a necessity. Even if I chose to never have sex again, I’m part of a minority in which 1/3 of us will be raped and I’ve already been assaulted once. Lack of abortion access will only drive higher and higher permanent birth control and unsafe abortions. We’re only seeing the beginning

thank you so much for bringing awareness to this topic through art. living in the US right now, it feels like all of the humanity has left the conversation surrounding abortion, just finding another way to dehumanize women. i really appreciate how much grace and understanding you covered this with

I am very appreciative of your research, and your channel's effort, as always.

I love this channel. Had an interest and the opportunity to take an art history class in high school but ended up not doing it cause none of my friends would take it with me. Think I'm gonna have to entertain that possibility again once im done with my nursing degree. You really showed me why I had a fascination in the subject to begin with

You are very brave to tackle this subject. Well done!

What an antidote to those right-wing "realist" artists' complaints about contemporary art. There's a lot of great "realist" art by diverse artists such as State's Rights, but are ignored by the complainants. It's like complaints about modern music; there's plenty of great music out there too often ignored by whiny listeners.

Great video. I'm glad the algorithm picked you up and sent this video to me. Thanks for making a high-quality video.

This was hard to watch, but thank you so much for making it.

I think that the topic described in this video would be a great oportunity to revisit the works of Paula Rego. She was a portuguese-british painter that spend much of her career focusing on women’s rights and, more particularly, abortion rights. She made a series of paintings depicting illegal abortions after the Portugal’s 1998 referendum on abortion. The referendum aimed to legalise abortions although the law was not passed. The paintings were published in several Portuguese newspapers before a second referendum in 2007, which reversed the 1998 result, and it is thought that the paintings significantly affected the result. I think that the life and works of Paula Rego would be a great topic for a video on your channel!

All three are heavy, but the first one was horrifying to me. As a final year medical student I know very well what procedures like that are supposed to look like. It couldn't be further from that. I'm really shaken, tbh

Amazing video as always, Herrero’s work is bonechilling, thank you for sharing. I always find myself thinking: why hasn’t the algorithm picked up the canvas yet. As a honest admissions videos like this often get added to the watchlater list for me; it’s something of a perceived air of seriousness or alertness required. Which is often not necessarily the case, but it did make me think; maybe this hinders videos like this from being picked up by the algorithm. Just an idea, keep up these amazing videos, I’ve found many of my fav artist through The Canvas,, so thank you! :)

Oh I LOVE this!! Thank you so much for all you do! Amazing! ❤

This is the video that made me subscribe to a Patreon for the first time. I had already subscribed to you on UKposts, but the level of analysis you give to artwork as a whole has never been so apparent as in this video (though it was close with your commentary on Ernst’s “The Failure of Surrealism”.) Thank you for all you do in this category.

Thank you for showing us these specific works of art this week and raising this often uncomfortable to think about topic. I have friends that have become pregnant and for whatever reason had an abortion. At least one of them still mourns what would have been her baby's birthday each year, but sometimes an abortion is necessary. I and my friends that have accessed the service are so lucky to live in England where abortion is legal and women are allowed to have rights. As these works of art show us, especially the last one, sometimes an abortion might be the difference between life and death for the girl/woman concerned. It's important for women and girls to have choices where their own healthcare and reproductive care is concerned.

I really really love your channel, hope you continue do more videos like this, is amazing.

love watching your vids when i paint, very engaging

Excellent and innovative art is still there. Thank you 🙏

Great video on such an important topic 👍

This is such a powerful art piece, I never could've known before clicking into this video

Another great video Canvas!

Recently found your channel. I live in one of most red state, Idaho and they have some the strict abortion laws. Plus we have obstetrician gynecologists' leaving our state. Your channel makes one think, which I enjoy..

Love your analysis 💕

For a while I had a bit of a dislike for more prominent pieces/styles of contemporary art and I didn’t understand why. I thought maybe I was the problem and was being anti intellectual, but I visit local contemporary art exhibitions fairly often and genuinely enjoy them (and i am an artist myself). Then I realized that a lot of it (again, the more prominent pieces/artists) rubbed the wrong way because it’s not made for/not speaking to the average person/member of the working class. It feels like a circle jerk of the rich and some out of touch, self important academics

Really good episode! Some really interesting works discussed.

Holy cow another Quebecker making baller content online!!! I really respect your work on YT and to hear that you're from QC as well is just more icing on the cake!!

Absolute perspective-changing facts. Thank you so much for this video, your perspective is deeply intelligent and empathetic. I look forward to showing this to my boyfriend and family.

i absolute love the love you put to art and to this actual history class in every video, can you do one of Joaquin Sorolla please? i wanna hear about him and his beautiful job

Thanks for once again having a very interesting video. I am from Quebec also and i am very pleased that at least certain of the horrors depicted will not or rarely happen. But,is a very touchy and difficul suject indeed

Amazing video as always

These are incredibly moving and powerful works, and so timely. Thank you for bringing them to light in this ugly era of our existence.

Fantastic production on such a sensitive topic! I'm glad you chose the different time periods...today's subject matter is so elusive due to media and propaganda's blanket (and ignorance)...I am somewhat nervous trying to express certain things in the studio - due to the intensity and/or the lack of personal experience - I sometimes think I have no right to explore! - but - that is sometimes what an artist needs (?)...Thanks for sharing.

One thing i found out about contemporary art is when you have the tittle and the time to sit donw and just look at it, it hits you. Especially with such topics that needs to be spoken. It is sad most of people think (and others make) contemporary art is just for intelectuals that spent days studying when i fact most of the time this art speak about topics everyone (especially people who doesnt have such luck in life to be jn the topnpf the ladder) NEEDS to think and reflect about As always, beautiful and amazing videos you do ❤ thanks for sharing it (and sorry for my english)

You know - UKposts's algorithm can really suck - I'm subscribed to get all notifications and I've missed your last 6 pieces. I only saw one of those missed as a recommendation after watching someone else's - and thought "oh yeah, I love his videos!" You make my absolute favorite videos on art.

The perfect response to that "o n e" video

Thank you for introducing me to this amazing powerful art

Thank you!

That was a hard watch. Very interesting

Nice

the whole "art is dead" rhetoric is yet another form of the perennial "the old days were better" belief. Art today is just as valid as any time before. Those complaining about it likely aren't spending enough time making their own art, and have too much time on their hands.

I love contemporary art ❤ so much fun and some are very inspiring 😊

More like this please!!!

The position of the hands and the figure at the root of a tree remind me of certain motifs from Buddhist iconography -- "Bhumisparsha mudra, translated as the earth touching gesture. Buddha statues with this mudra are commonly known as the "earth-witness...the former prince reached out his right hand to touch the earth as it is believed that the earth itself roared "I bear you the witness!" Hearing the roar from the earth herself, the demon king disappeared...the Bhumisparsha mudra also signifies the union of skillful means or Upaya which is well represented by the right hand touching the earth, and wisdom or Prajna, which is represented by the left hand with its palm facing upward on the lap in the meditation position. As the story tells about the earth being the witness of the Buddha's enlightenment, the Bhumisparshamudra depicts the Buddha's firm belief and effort while pursuing the path of enlightenment. It is believed that the Bhumisparsha mudra was used by Akshobhya to transform the delusion of anger into wisdom. Therefore, in Buddhism, it is believed that the Bhumisparsha mudra helps us to bring about the transformation from rage and anger to wisdom." The painting inverts this symbolism in several ways. The right hand, instead of being placed on the earth, is placed over the womb. The left palm usually depicted as resting over the lap (generally associated with offerings and grace -- "please, go ahead and cut in") is holding the coat hanger and placed on the roots of the tree. Taken together, this remixing of symbols suggests that by the knowledge of her own providence over the bodily state and skillful means at her disposal, a woman cannot be compelled to bear a child against her will. This right is not within the providence of the state, it belongs to the natural state. In the most extreme cases, a woman could end her own life to avoid bearing an unwanted child. The symbolism of the traditional iconography has Buddha saying "I will accept what is being offered me; this earth herself will bear witness to my rightfulness in being where I am." This inversion says "I will not accept what is being denied me; this body will testify to my rightfulness in rejecting your rulership." www.originalbuddhas.com/about-buddha-statues/hand-positions/bhumisparsha-mudra

You should cover sculptures more, my favorite art form

I mean, there's a lot of contemporary art, and some bad ones. It depends. also I Hope you cover sculptures more on the channel

You make me like art again.

No child should have to come into a world where it is not wanted.

Please leave a link of Withey museum clip in description.

Very powerful works.

C'est un sujet tabou mais très bien élaboré.

I love contemporary art so much wow

Thank you for showing important artwork by these to me, “unknown” artists.

off topic but satisfying/nice fit lol

Silly as it sounds, it had never occurred to me to think of contemporary art through meaning. I’ve always been quite dismissive of it from an aesthetic point of view. So, thank you for the insight! As for the subject matter, I am amazed at how three different works of art can convey the same raw emotion; a feeling I have unfortunately seen in the faces of women who have gone through the procedure. Just a couple of years ago a bill was passed in my country, Argentina, to legalize abortion. It was not an easy feat and, sadly, the fight will never be over. Roe v. Wade has proven that one must keep fighting to protect our rights everywhere and everywhen.

That was terrifying.

Yes!

For anyone interested in a literary depiction of this subject, I encourage you to read Harlan Ellison's The Resurgence of Miss Anklestrap Wedgie.

Quite a beautiful and haunting reminder of the unfortunate times we live in, for sure.

What an amazing transition in one lifetime. When I was a child the Catholic Church had a stranglehold on Quebec society and politics. Abortion would have been soundly condemned. Now less than 5 percent of Quebec people are pro life. Wonderful how things can advance!

Streaming later! Check out twitch.tv/germinaal!

My best guess as to the meaning of the tree and ladder is that she planned to hang herself if something went wrong/she couldn't perform the abortion

link to "Is It Real? Yes, It Is!" by the Whitney Museum of American Art: ukposts.info/have/v-deo/e4ebaYd9hnuF2KM.html

I see the right hand on her stomach as a gesture of protection. She’s taking ownership of her own body.

❤

❤❤

i saw the illegal operation in a museum, it was even worse in real life. even my pro-life dad stopped to look at it for a few minutes

heartbreaking

If you want contemporary art that's good, the de Young Open in SF has a lot of amazing recent works including many truly provocative ones.

as a Contemporary artist literally doing this I disagree that contemporary has lost anything many of my pieces allegorically comment on societal issues we have today

Wow I didn’t know that there was a faith to be restored in contemporary art

Just to let you know, I have been subscribed to you for years and I had just checked AGAIN and was not subscribed AGAIN....???

Important video

I should paint you❤

thought provoking

Freud, to me, was a true master of his art. I have to admit though that i wonder if he didn't really like his fellow man. Some of his works, because of the colour palette, have the distinct colouring of corpses. A bit like some of Stanley Spencer's nudes. Is it a Slade School tendency?

stunning breath taking and so glorious in its humanity

You see the odalisque, you imagine what you'd do together. Well this is the potential result; the aftermath of the male gaze.

Triggering thumbnail

Maybe also check, Paula Rego's work. Her work in the beginning of the.millenuim, change the abortion law and politics in Portugal.

I think Herrero's picture depicts Eve. She has tasted the fruit of the tree "of the knowledge of good and evil", and now she must be punished. According to some, anyway.

I wish people would read these stories before forming their opinion. It seems so unfair to take away the rights of people, so often not understood by those in control of policy. It hurts

my best friend from el salvador is about 2-3 years older then me and in 2019 her family practically sold her off to an older man for money. she got pregnant, dropped out and moved to texas to give birth and raise her son. i havent seen her since. from what ive heard she is married to the same man who got her pregnant, the same man her family gave her up to. shes 17 now. it terrifies me to think about how people believe that this was her only choice and that people agree with it. people agree that a 13-14 year old should drop out of school to give birth to a child and to raise it. seeing this art made me think about her.