Maharashtra's nude models get a meagre raise to pose for fine arts students

Have you ever wondered how the models who pose for fine arts students feel like? Well, not only is their job kind of boring (what with having to stand motionless for hours on end) but in Maharashtra, nude models – whose only job is to be the muse for art students – are severely underpaid. Models are an integral part of the curriculum at any fine art college. Their job is to stand pretty so that the budding painters can recreate their form on canvas. Alongside, the students get to learn about male and female anatomy, postures, expressions and other body details from these nude models who are hired on a daily basis.

[caption id=“attachment_2301256” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image, Reuters.[/caption] For this tiring job, nude models in Maharashtra would earn only Rs. 300 for a full day session and semi-nude models would earn Rs. 250.

But now, according to this Times of India report, the fee has been raised to Rs. 1000 for nude models and Rs. 600 for semi-nude models. The raise is a result of the fact that it had started becoming difficult to hire models at such measly rates.

Govind Pawar, officiating dean of Government Art College, Aurangabad told TOI, “Drawing sessions last for six hours. Posing as a model for so long requires patience, as the model has to remain still for long stretches,” adding, “We’ve almost given up the practice of getting nude life models for drawing sessions as nobody is willing to undress for a pittance, even if it’s for the sake of art.”

This fee may still not be enough, but a raise could be a step in the right direction.