AITA for not taking my mom’s painting down?

A 19-year-old woman has a painting with emotional value in her recently acquired apartment; it was created by her mother. The artwork portrays a bare-chested adolescent prince alongside a princess in a traditional, fantastical style. Upon visiting, the woman’s grandmother, on her mother’s side, expressed extreme disapproval, considering the painting unsuitable and urging the woman to conceal it from view.

The grandmother’s rebuke made the woman feel slighted, so she wouldn’t take down the art, which sparked a dispute. Read the original story below…

‘ AITA for not taking my mom’s painting down?’

As a 19-year-old female, I recently moved into my own place. My mother, a skilled painter, created a fantasy world inspired by ancient Greece. A key feature of her world is that modesty norms differ, and men and women enjoy relative equality.

She created a painting for my brother and me. It portrays a young prince and princess, who are siblings, playfully fighting. Both are without shirts, an artistic choice meant to build upon classical Greek mythology paintings and allude to the varying degrees of accepted exposure.

It holds considerable emotional significance for me, hence its placement in my apartment’s central living space. Given that background, my maternal grandparents visited with my 13-year-old cousin, and I neglected to relocate it beforehand. My grandmother reacted strongly, deeming it repulsive.

I became very angry because she seemed to think it was acceptable to have my cousin remain in the vehicle and attempted to coerce me into concealing something. I was irritated that she had reprimanded me, an adult, in my own residence, so I declined, and we had a disagreement. Am I the one in the wrong?

Here’s the feedback from the Reddit community:

Hiply −  NTA – It’s art, it’s yours, and if you want it there then by all means keep it there.

Dittoheadforever −  You’re NTA.  Your 13 year old cousin saw a painting that had bare breasts in it??? The shock! The horror! The c**ruption! **/s** Granny needs to get the stick out of her ass and accept that her 13 year old grandchild has already seen much more graphic images in movies and on the internet.  Boobs in a painting doesn’t merit pearl clutching.

One-Passion5107 −  NTA. Your grandma is the one harming your 13 year old cousin by suggesting that a natural, non-sexual depiction of the human body is disgusting.  She perhaps just saw the nudity and freaked out, it might be worth trying to have a calm and respectful conversation with her in which you explain the meaning behind the picture and that it isn’t intended to be sexual or offensive in nature.

It might be helpful to compare it to classic art or sculpture where nude women are portrayed in a fairly harmless manner. However, if she remains offended despite this, it would likely be simpler to just concede and relocate it when she’s present. She may be too set in her ways to alter her viewpoint, and the saying “choose your battles” holds truth.

stu5640 −  NTA – I’ll bet your 13 year old cousin has seen muuuuuuuuch worse. There’s nothing shaming about displaying art when nudity is part of the art itself. Your grandmother is obviously old fashioned but that isn’t an excuse to go onto your home and start citicising.

It’s your space, so defend it, as you’ve done nothing wrong. If Grandma disapproves, she’s welcome to stay away.

IBlameMyPlayers −  NTA. Nudity isn’t necessarily sexual. If it can be put into a high school art history book then it should be fine.. Also, that painting sounds badass.

FAYCSB −  You’re NTA, but I’m not going to pretend that your mom painting a picture of teenage siblings shirtless isn’t weird as hell.

ImaginaryPark6311 −  Don’t ever take them to the museum.   They will get super offended by the naked statues and paintings.

TrickSea_239 −  Just curious, was none of this artwork hung in your family home anywhere? Bit of a shame to think she never displayed her own artwork, which grandma’s reaction seems to suggest? That’s the odd bit to me. I’d have assumed she knew the style of art your mother created, that it wasn’t hidden all this time.

NTA. It’s unlikely your cousin would have paid any attention; aren’t children nowadays constantly engrossed in their phones, televisions, and video games? By drawing attention to it, your cousin is made aware that it’s significant, which immediately sparks their curiosity in the matter.

DoctorWhosCousin −  NTA- the oversexualization of breasts is ridiculous, if your grandma is so worried about a painting she’d be shocked what’s on the Internet. Keep it up and share it with pride, your grandmother sounds like TA.

spaetzlechick −  Apparently your cousins are being raised without the benefit of an art education. Can’t imagine a single art museum (other than kids museums) where nudity is not normal.

I see it as somewhat analogous to alcohol. Children whose parents completely forbade them from any exposure to typical drinking habits were more prone to extreme behavior when they gained independence.

It is vital to support one’s individual feelings, particularly regarding significant presents for family members. What are your opinions? Let us know in the comments!