Saint to Slut: The Representation of Sex Workers in Art

Abstract

Sex work is one of the oldest professions that remains in society today. With its long history, sex workers have repeatedly found themselves in the limelight, society contemplating and prescribing meanings to their bodies. As a result, sex workers have become a popular subject of art throughout the years. This article specifically looks at their depiction in the Renaissance/Late-Renaissance and the present platform of OnlyFans to understand the evolution of the representation of sex workers. An analysis of their portrayal is done through a comparison of artworks in an effort to look at society’s varying perceptions of sex workers and, more importantly, the role of agency within these works. While the discussion of agency in sex work is an ongoing and delicately complex one, this article aims to explore the possibility of reclamation and empowerment within the profession by asking the question: When depicting a sex worker who is owning her body? The sex worker, artist, or viewer?