Art: Venus Cacopyge

The Greeks had an unfailing eye for free-flowing beauty of line. Modern clothes designers have an anxious eye toward line too—but it is rarely free-flowing, and only beautiful if fashion says so.

In a girdle ad published in the U.S. last week, the upper left-hand corner showed a cherubic two-year-old girl, buff bare, climbing into a tub. The caption said: "Your derriere's darling . . . when you're two!"

Then came the punch line: "But you're a big girl now. You need a [So & so girdle]." To show what was meant, the ad offered a full-length back view of a shapely brunette...

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