Warning: Extreme Nudity
For many young people, especially men, going into the field of art the issue of nudity in art will come up. I suppose this is an issue for older men as well who want to use the naked human body in a painting or piece of photography. I suppose I wouldn't have much objection to the issue if men and women were used in an equal fashion. Let me preface that by saying I'd personally prefer to look at women than men, as much as the next guy, but herein lies my point. Nudity is not necessary, in 99% of the cases. And don't try to inflate your ego by saying your are the 1% exception.
Let's go back to an earlier day in the art world, to such paintings as Picasso's "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" or Manet's "Luncheon on the Grass". There was purpose in the nakedness being presented in each of these paintings. In Picasso's case it was an exploration of style with a particular subject matter. The folds of clothing and multicolored hues of fabrics would probably have detracted from that exploration on cubism in the painting. In Manet's painting it was a purposeful contrast of actualities against social mores, we either expected the woman to be clothed or some nefarious purpose to be behind their nudity, neither of which was true.
Up through the years, however, nude figures have crept into the paintings and portraits of many an artist's gallery, the female figure in particular. And along that timeline there have been good reasons for such inclusions. Take, for instance, Alice Neel's "Self-portrait" as an example of appropriate nudity. This was exactly how Alice saw herself. There may have been some motive for shocking the public, but of all the ways that she could have accomplished this task, I think shock as the primary factor for the painting can be ruled out. Thus painting life as it is to you in a natural form can be considered acceptable.
On the other hand, Maplethorpe, I would consider, produced unacceptable nudity but the purpose behind his exposition of the human body and some of the various shockers he provides does make much of the "forbidden fruit" aspect of acceptable art. This combination of acceptable art but unacceptable nudity encompasses a much larger part of the body of artwork out there that employs the use of the naked human body. After all, there are valid ideas that can be considered artwork that employ the human body that we, as adults, can thoughtfully look at, consider, and respect.
Latest Articles