Odalisque - Chapter 1.1

The man sat with his long legs crossed, leaning his body on the backrest.

The fingertips, wrapped in white gloves, tapped on the armrest in an orderly tempo. When the director, who sharply noticed that fine wrinkles were forming between the man’s beautiful eyebrows, beckoned, the frame hanging in front of the man was quickly removed by the staff. As if not to waste time, they quickly hung the next frame on the wall.

Confirming that the blue eyes were staring straight at the painting, the director spoke in a calm voice.

“This artist is a newcomer who is in the spotlight these days, and recently, he won a prize at the Academy Art Show with excellent reviews.”

It was the most satisfying work prepared by the director. It could be said that the previous works were just accessories to make this work stand out even more.

“He makes good use of light. He’s far more sensuous than the previous artists.”

Of course, it was against the director’s belief to treat works with the artist’s soul in this way.

This was Royven, the largest art gallery in Buerno, and he was the director of the gallery. Besides the title of director, he, Aaron, was born and raised in a family with deep knowledge of art from generation to generation. He was a man who loved and respected works of art.

However, the problem was that this customer Aaron was dealing with was too important a figure.

“He is an artist who usually borrows mythological scenes to express the theme. I think you’ve recognized the figure in this work, of course.”

The man tilted his head at an angle. A few strands of smooth platinum hair were scattered along the movement.

The man, who was slowly looking through the plump and white skin in the picture, slowly moved his red lips.

“Is she the goddess of the moon?”

“Yes, she is. Projecting man’s primal desires into unattainable divinity—”

“That’s cliche.”

Those were lips that opened only after dozens of works. However, all that flowed out was a cynical review.

Aaron, who believed he would satisfy the man’s taste this time, suppressed his sigh and managed his expression. His heart ached so much as he removed even the work he was most confident about.

This job was not just a place to please the other person. Rather, it was closer to testing Aaron’s ability to evaluate works of art on his own. This was because the man’s difficult and unique taste aroused competitive desire.

The straight and bizarre taste of the man, the Marquis of Dietrion, who only seeked nude works.

“Forgive me, my Lord. I don’t think I found a work that pleases your heart again today.”

Marquis Dietrion was a well-known collector among art lovers. Periodically purchasing artworks, he was a big investor that Aaron could never miss, and peculiarly, he was a collector who emphasized on the subject of the work.

When purchasing, the Marquis did not take into account whether the work was created by an artist with a promising future or an artist who was already renowned. There was only one point he saw as important.

The subject of the work, nudity.

Aaron beckoned with his eyes at the staff, swallowing his regret.

Apart from not liking the work, the Marquis purchased all of the nude works he saw. So will the nude paintings he saw today.

“What about that one?”

The Marquis suddenly pointed at Aaron’s back with his chin as he was trying to leave his seat.

Only then did Aaron realize that he had left out one work. Aaron, who checked behind him, awkwardly closed his lips.

“That work is…”

What should he say about that? It was a sort of assortment.

Aaron loves all works of art, but only if it was a work that fits the level. And that one was…

“The painting style is a little rough compared to the previous works, so you may be displeased to see it.”

Low-quality artworks sometimes provoke the wrath of art lovers.

In Aaron’s view, that work was like that. He acquired it by chance in the process of collecting nude paintings at random, but it was a work that was significantly inferior to other works. It was probably a work that would not be bought by anyone else but the Marquis of Dietrion, but it was embarrassing to take it out.

However, Aaron’s attitude seemed to have stimulated the interest of the Marquis. The Marquis quietly stared at Aaron.

“Display it.”

Said Aaron reluctantly, ordering the staff. The staff who were looking around quickly moved.

The painting hung alone on a wide, clean wall, looked rather shabby, unlike the others that had been hung.

It wasn’t just because of the artist’s poor skill. The shabbiness was due to the naked woman in that painting.

The woman stood upright with her naked back showing. The slightly bowing head, the arms gathered in front, and the two legs that were tightly attached looked like a piece of wood standing in the wilderness.

The unnatural and awkward posture of the woman caused subtle discomfort to the viewer. Her body looked great in shape, but that alone couldn’t make her a good model.

Seeing it again, it was the same. The woman in the painting was too stiff and awkward. There was no beauty, or artistic value to be found in her body.