In 2020, I reviewed Volume 1 of a series that overtly connects Yuri with fine art. Today I want to take a look at the sequel, Koisuru Meiga, Volume 2 (恋する名画).

The first few chapters feel as if the entire book may have pivoted towards horror scenarios…and, okay, that’s legit. Art can be super creepy, especially when we’re meant to be looking it in the eye. The book begins with Rosseau’s The Sleeping Gypsy, and manages to skirt at least some bloodshed. But this is followed by a few stories which instantly step into “eugh” territory, with Willam-Adolphe Bourgereau’s Little Girl. Fujita Tsuguharu (Leonard Fujita)’s Neko wo Daku Shoujo is turned into a really creepy lesbian doll story….

At this point, the book takes a strong turn away from creepy, with a modern spin on a piece I like and have seen many times, Suzuki Harunobu’s Setchuu Aiaigasa.

From here, the book steps back into a few key Yuri tropes. First love is illustrated by Egon Schiele’s Two Women Embracing. The book finishes with the old marriage part of ‘marriage or death,’ with a lovely iteration of Johannes Vermeer’s Girl With the Pearl Earring.

But it is the penultimate story I want to end with because it was a short, bitter, creepy ensemble of social media stalking, modern art and a hefty helping of “this is bad, but it could have been REALLY bad.” The story follows the lover of a popular idol as she manipulates her lover with cyberbullying and social media.  The painting? One of Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe silkscreens all named Untitled. The mashup here of topic was brilliant in layers and as a whole.  Honestly…kind of a fucked up little masterwork.

A few of the artworks are not reproduced in the book (presumably due to copyright,) but it would not be hard to envision them…one only need take a short glance at this page to know what is being referenced.

Overall, a better collection, I think, than Volume 1, by virtue of not attempting to reproduce as much as re-interpret. Using the art as a prompt, if you will.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 7 A tad dark, but not intolerable
Characters – Widely variable from creepy dolls to lovers in the snow
Service – 5 Some nudity, other service, creepiness
Yuri – 6

Overall – 8 Darker, but I liked it more.

This volume had a nice variety of art in period and style. I hope you’ll take a look at the originals and think about how you might write a Yuri story around them. ^_^