Lauren at the Rabbit Club 

Vincent Giarrano painted "Lauren at the Rabbit Club" with oils on board. Giarrano’s contemporary painting presents a young woman in a state of undress in a messy room, setting up a tension between the public and private spheres. The painting style is loose and casual, mirroring the intimacy of the scene. Made in the 21st century, it captures a particular moment in the social history of Western culture, when it became more acceptable to reveal details of the domestic spaces of young people. The mirror reflecting Lauren's back seems to invite the gaze of the viewer. What does the image say about the male gaze in the 21st century, compared with historical paintings of the female nude? What are the politics of representation at work here? Is it progressive or regressive? These questions are open for discussion, and can be illuminated by research into contemporary gender studies.