Review of Arte

Ok, starting off, this was hands-down one of my favourite Spring 2020 anime. Truly. It just pushed all my buttons-historical setting, woman-centric, feel-good story with a garnishing of psychological dilemma. What’s not to love? But seriously, there are a few specific reasons why I loved this anime. First of all, let’s start with the woman of the hour, Arte. Of course her naivete is a bit on the higher side (anime liberty I guess), but I kinda get it, in a way. She was a sheltered girl, educated only in what was thought was required for women of nobility of the time, which really wasn’t much.She was lucky enough to be encouraged in her passion by her father, but that was gone when he went, and all her mother (again typically) just wants her to find a husband and give up art. And of course, you can’t really blame her, it’s just the way she was taught to think.
Anyway, my point is, the girl is thick-skinned, and pretty darn stone-headed. Which is a blessing in disguise since it helps her get through all she goes through without being all depressed. But perhaps the best part about her is how she deals with harassment. The woman is clearly in a man’s world, and she faces quite a lot of discrimination and verbal abuse. The thing is, she doesn’t go all shonen protagonist and think “ill become a great artist and make them eat their words”. No she just drops her head down, and gets to work. And to me, that is the best way to fight in situations like this.
Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying we shouldn’t fight back against discrimination or harassment. But when it’s based on profession or when it’s institutional the best way to do it is to beat them at their own game. Now malicious abuse needs to be called out, but in Arte’s case, it wasn’t really malicious. It was just people who were used to certain way of things and refused to recognise something different. What do you do when the entire system is rigged against you? Be like Arte - show them that you can hold your own, change isn’t always a bad thing, and that your success doesn’t mean someone else’s failure. And sooner or later, more people like you will come up, and a new narrative will be born. The proof of what I am saying is in time itself. Something that was so frowned upon in Arte’s time (a woman being an artist) is something that is so normal today. The narrative has changed.
Alright, that took a bit too long, so let’s move on. The next thing I love is the dilemma they create around her unique situation. It’s so beautifully done in the fact that it’s made just for her character. I mean, some people might not have even thought of it as a problem, but she does, and it’s only because of who she is. In the first half, we see how hard Arte has to work to become and continue working as an apprentice artist, solely because she’s female. Added to the fact that a she’s high class female, its provides the perfect setting for no one to ever take her seriously, or believe that shell keep this up for too long. This is standard, and well done. The twist comes after she gets the Venice job offer, an offer that was given to her solely because she is a noblewoman, the very thing which had handicapped her all this time. Now, this is a huge deal for an apprentice, and doesn’t happen often, but for Arte it’s a problem. Now she’s wondering if it’s her skill or her background that opened doors for her. Now for a lot of people (including me) it wouldn’t really matter why she got it, and my advice to her would be that it doesn’t matter as long as she produces good work. But I’m not Arte. Arte has been fighting all this time to be recognised as just an artist. Now, the realisation that her background can open new doors for her, which would be impossible for a normal apprentice, really drives her up the wall. Of course, she comes out of her musing stronger, and the decision she makes (and the declaration she gives Yuri is truly to die for!) is an answer that is sensible and realistic, which I love. I mean too often, creative liberty is taken so far that the decisions characters make aren’t practical, which is totally fine if it’s that kind of anime. But in a down-to-earth one like Arte, they maintained their practicality and I’m grateful for the wholesome experience that the anime gave me.
Of course, special shoutout to Veronica and Leo. Veronica was a character I loved so much throughout the series, and the only real role model Arte had, not in her job, but as an independent working woman, who more than once stopped Arte from getting distracted. And Leo, of course, who is truly wonderful, from his surly manner to the way he looks after and cares for Arte. Though I wanted to bash him on the head for his cryptic message when Arte left for Venice. The girl isn’t that smart, she’s never gonna get it! And to prove my point she promptly spent so much time worrying about it!
Anyway that’s all I have to say. Arte is awesome, do watch it!
What I loved most: Arte herself. That woman is hilarious!
What I hated most: the sexism. I know it was a different time and all, but it was still super difficult to stomach.