Cathleen A is cute, adorable, kittenish. She can project sugary sweetness and there’s often a lively, animated, playful energy in her eyes and general demeanor. But cuteness is just one aspect of the Met Art erotic photo series Mezitay.
I can also say that the artist Arkisi is a skilled technician and that he has a knack for simple, natural set design and art direction. Or that he’s careful to include a broad range of compositions, and that he inspires and instructs his subject to attempt a variety of moods, emotions, and styles through her poses. But technical and artistic ability are not what “Mezitay” is about.
Cathleen A’s performance here, and Arkisi’s presentation in “Mezitay,” are about one thing, and one thing only. And that thing is sex. This can’t be surprising, it is an erotic photo set, after all. Cathleen A is nude throughout, and images of a beautiful naked woman are bound to inspire sexual thoughts. But there’s more to it than that. It’s a spirit, an attitude, a state of mind that’s instantly recognised and irresistibly attractive. Beautiful girl, yes. Pretty photographs, yes. But spend a bit of time perusing these photos and I expect most viewers’ thoughts will take a sharp turn in a prurient direction.
And it’s not just about detailed explicit close-ups and a variety of bold and brazen poses. “Mezitay” is filled with both, and by the time it’s over a skilled artist could probably draw a perfect rendering of Cathleen’s profoundly pretty pudenda from memory. But more than the obvious physical aspects, it’s the look in those big beautiful eyes. The sly smile on those luscious lips. A tilt of the head and a roll of the hips. Cathleen A has a gift for loading these revealing poses with animal emotion that can’t help but heat up the most jaded libido.
It would probably be easier to list the images in “Mezitay” that are not great than to list those that are. I do think there’s a little too much emphasis on the “I’m sucking my finger, what does that remind you of?” pose. Apart from that, pleasing images are plentiful. #001, a tame, full-length body shot is a fine introduction, and the corner of the bed in the foreground provides a hint of the heat soon to come. In #038 Cathleen is on the bed, posed to perfection, and giving fresh meaning to the term “bedroom eyes.” An invitation to erotic ecstasy is extended in #049, a rear view with sultry attitude. Getting as close as can be in #078 provides enticing anatomical detail.
Talk about beauty. Talk about art. Cathleen A in “Mezitay” will quickly turn the subject of the conversation to sex.
