I love this beautifully kinky painting, and have done since I first saw it.
It’s by American artist Natalie Frank, who spent time in New York City’s dungeon underworld, gathering material for a striking set of images of Dominatrix’s and their clients. I know that underworld, and have visited Dominas in New York dungeons myself, so it’s not at all hard to put myself in the image; not hard to feel her touch against my back or her arm around my neck.
But’s there’s more than that in this image for me.
A twitter friend recently added a comment to a photo I had posted, saying that she liked the strength she saw in my submission, and that is what I see here. There is something about his posture and the way he stares so directly at the viewer, that suggests he too has agency in this situation. He has submitted to the Dominatrix and allowed himself to be bound to a frame and flogged; he has allowed her strong arm to circle his throat and control his breathing, and yet, paradoxically perhaps, we can still sense that this is a strong man.
In much of Femdom art, the man is shown as a rather hapless victim and, however much I might relish the image of his dominant torturer, I often struggle to identify with the image of him. I have no such problems here, and I enjoy the portrayal of his strength as much as I enjoy the portrayal of hers.
You can Read about the artist Natalie Frank’s journey “deep into the underbelly of the BDSM world of New York City” and the paintings that came from it in this article.
Interestingly, she paired them with images of dancers for a show called “Natalie Frank: Dancers and Dominas” in Chicago in 2017.
I love erotic art and this is wonderful piece is no exception. It really does show his strength, even as he surrenders. Being a bottom, I can relate to him, but being a female, I can not. The power exchange is different for myself I believe (due to the gender oconformity?), but no less intense.
Thank you very much for sharing 🙂