Expert interpretation

A couple attending an art exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York were staring at a portrait that had them totally confused. The painting depicted three black men, totally naked, sitting on a park bench. Two of the men had black willies, but the one on the man seated in the middle was pink.

A studious looking man wearing glasses, the art gallery director, realised the confused couple were having trouble interpreting the painting and offered his assessment. He went on and on for nearly half an hour explaining how this brilliant work of art depicted sexual emasculation of African-Americans in what is a predominantly white, patriarchal society.

“There is a counter view, though,” he pointed out. “Some serious critics believe the pink willy reflects the cultural and sociological oppression expressed by gay men in a contemporary society”.

After the curator left, a stooped, scruffily dressed man approached the still bemused couple and said, “Guess you’d like to know what the painting really is all about?”

They looked at him, doubtful. “Now why would you claim to be more of an expert than the curator of the Gallery?” they asked.

“Because I painted it,” he replied. “In fact, there is no African-American representation at all, any more than there is a homosexual undertone”.

“The painting simply shows three New England coalminers. The guy in the middle went home for lunch”.

Thanks to John for sending this one in. If you want to read some other great jokes, click here. Or to submit one of your own to share with the Starts at 60 community, click here.