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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
Chloë Ashby

Depraved by Daisy Dixon review – a history of dark and dangerous art

The Rape of Europa by Titian.
The Rape of Europa by Titian. Photograph: Alamy

Museums are damned if they do, damned if they don’t. Ignore the problems of the past and they’re criticised for being problematic. Rewrite their labels according to changing politics and they’re called preachy and woke. The fact is, history is filled with immoral art. But how do we know it when we see it? And what, if anything, should we be doing about it?

In her timely and punchy new book, the philosopher Daisy Dixon explores some of the most controversial artworks ever produced. She’s interested in how an artist’s character can influence their creations, and the harmful effects those creations can have on the world.

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