Talk:Jenny Saville

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This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 10 January 2022 and 30 April 2022. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Cel66490, Karahheater, Montana Wrecks, Kaylieann42 (article contribs).

thank you thank you thank you[edit]

Where's the delete button? This is the worst article I've ever seen. And that's saying something. Jamie

It may be a bad article, but it's about a legitimate subject. I'll do a little research and expand it so that it's at least a decent stub. Bedesboy 22:53, 18 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

I expanded this a bit. She's one of my favourite artists and I studied her during my MA so it wasn't hard. It's my first ever edit so be kind! Do you think it needs more detail or is it ok now? I am currently trying to contact her directly to get permission to use some of her images to illustrate the article - I think it's vital for a subject like this. I want to use Propped (1992) Closed Contact No 10 (2002) and one other painting at least - if I can get permission! Penguin2006 06:18, 20 January 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Excellent, thank you thank you thank you :) Jamie

Tell me, Why?[edit]

I can see that she has great talent, and what she does with paint is absolutely amazing but I still don't understand why it has to be so crued. Tell me, Why?

It all depends on your opinion of 'crued'. IMHO, it's not, but I can see why people think it is. I think she's trying to get across that big can be beautiful, too, even though most of the world doesn't believe so. My opinion, anyway. Anyone else? Eeve3 00:26, 10 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Man, a lot of people talk about the "body politics" of her work but that's kind of beside the point for me. It's definitely in there, sure, and important (though I don't see where people get "big can be beautiful" from -- to me the political angle is precisely that these paintings are aggressively NOT pretty: the idea that sex appeal is necessary to get or deserve attention is especially pervasive lately) but what interests me more is how she gets at the materiality of flesh, the weight and substance of physical being in a way that more straightforward naturalism, paradoxically, tends to obscure. (There's an obvious comparison here to Francis Bacon which Google tells me has, indeed, been made, apparently by the artist herself.) Also of note: she's actually pretty cute!@!!!!!@
Yes. Yes, she is pretty cute! ;) Ceoil (talk) 00:05, 6 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I think that the idea of her work being a statement of 'Big is Beautiful' is a bit of an insult. Do you realy think a transvestite mid-way through surgery is beautiful? Exploration doesn't have to say something to mean something. I think the fact that she is able to confront a topic that we all shy away from is commendable and even though it's pretty gross, needs to be done. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.31.255.209 (talk) 14:54, 8 November 2008 (UTC)[reply]


Saville's work is meant to depict a grotesque manner although, her later works (mainly discussing late 2010's - 2020's) convey vibrant colours compared to her earlier work. She works with abstracting the figure in a less unsightly fashion however, does she still create the same weighted paintings as her past work? Is her practice moving towards a more formally appealing approach?Kathleenvdh (talk) 23:40, 25 January 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Blatantly feminist?[edit]

This is an opinion. It would be better if reworded or deleted completely - it's up to others as I don't know much about the artist and this might be a quote or something. Brainshower (talk) 23:38, 29 October 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Get rid of it. Ceoil (talk) 23:51, 29 October 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Aesthetics section and Notable Works[edit]

Is "Aesthetics" a common heading? I find the purpose of this section a little unclear. The information contained in the section appears to be a series of quotes commenting on Saville's work, but requires improvement to make it a more cohesive read. I suggest changing this section to "critical response" or something of this nature. Also, the notable works section does not include anything later than 1999 even though she has produced quite a bit of work since then. Propped is not included in this section even though it is the highest selling work by a living female artist. Also, I would love to include more images, but am still learning how to do this without infringing on copyright laws. Fr33labour (talk) 01:10, 10 August 2019 (UTC)[reply]

I was thinking the same about adding more images in the Select Works section. Would looking into the Saatchi Gallery works be a good idea? ––Griib (talk) 21:48, 26 January 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Lead image[edit]

Is the lead image the best example to use?

  1. "Since her debut in 1992, Saville's focus has remained on the female body."
  2. There's no explanation of that painting anywhere in the text and the title is quite ambiguous.
  3. All the examples at the Saatchi page for her show female nudes.

Any ideas? Thanks. Martinevans123 (talk) 16:00, 25 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

A Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion[edit]

The following Wikimedia Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion:

Participate in the deletion discussion at the nomination page. —Community Tech bot (talk) 17:37, 20 March 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Date of birth[edit]

The entry for the registration of Saville's birth at FreeBMD is this one, mother's name Terry, for second quarter 1970. Martinevans123 (talk) 19:36, 16 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]