Main Idea: The essay tackles about how people look at art and the effects of traditional oil painting on society and modern day publicity.
- Paintings were prized during 1500-1900 because they were the only way to capture a moment in time and possess it forever.
- According to McEwan, art is more widely viewed and loved because of it being able to be reproduced.
- Oil paintings have always been a symbol of stature, class, culture and education.
- The idea of exhibiting one’s things and materialism, to show the viewer what they need in order to be happy, is from the traditional oil painting.
- Just like the way they were used as subjects in traditional oil paintings, women and sex were used profusely in modern day publicity to attract consumers.
