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Facebook Censors Famous French Painting

Man whose account was axed is now suing the site

By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 14, 2011 1:55 PM CDT

(Newser) – Gustave Courbet's The Origin of the World hangs in Paris' renowned Musee d'Orsay—but good luck posting it on Facebook. A French man made the painting, which features a woman's, ahem, lower half, his profile picture—and found his profile deleted. He is now suing the social networking site, the Telegraph reports. His lawyer calls the action "blind censorship" and says Facebook has not answered emails demanding that his client's page be reinstated.

A Danish artist who posted the same painting also had his account deactivated in February; Facebook eventually reactivated it, but only on the condition that he wouldn't post any more nude pictures. Gawker notes that a French writer who, in an act of solidarity, also made the painting his profile picture found his account axed as well.

A man looks at the 'The Origin of the World' painting by French artist Gustave Courbet (1819-1857) at the Grand Palais galleries in Paris.
A man looks at the 'The Origin of the World' painting by French artist Gustave Courbet (1819-1857) at the Grand Palais galleries in Paris.   (Getty Images)
Gustave Courbet's painting 'The Origin of the World).
Gustave Courbet's painting 'The Origin of the World).   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 11 comments
JackNelsonSteward
Apr 16, 2011 9:44 AM CDT
I went and found a full screen image of the picture. It is rich and wonderful. Thank you Gustave ... having someone model for it must have been great fun.
littlewolfplaying
Apr 16, 2011 7:56 AM CDT
what part of NO dont you all understand?the N? or the O? i am with Facebook! no nudity on Facebook!!!! i am on Facebook all the time and i wont be friends with you if you act like that. i dont want to date you or see you naked or care about you sexual conduct. thats not what Facebook is about and good for Facebook. go to yahoo or some other place for that kind of stuff. and who knows Facebook might just save some people from great embarrassment........lol
spraynard
Apr 14, 2011 6:16 PM CDT
i don't like how the author wrote out "ahem" here.

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