Thanks, George! At least when you look at art and sculptures in the BCE era nudity is fair game for everyone! Generally, (not always true) it's from the Renaissance on where the boobs-out brigade begins. Just title your image of a reclining lovely Venus and full frontal nudity is allowed. Check out 'Venus of Urbino' by our pal Titian... the OG single-name artist.
It's kind of interesting that artists were all about the nudity. Is it because they are trying to show the natural state of humans? Clothes being a modern convenience? A bit like how portraits these days don't usually include mobile phones? Or am I being ridiculous?
Yes, those arguments can be made, including that it's a sign of disregard for human inhibitions (they are Goddesses after all). Of course, different peoples view nudity differently (having a sauna in Ireland and Northern Europe are very different experiences 😉). Originally, artists needed to understand anatomy so they learned from nude models and become comfortable with that. Not that I'm telling you things you don't know! I suppose I mean to note that artists can come up lots of reasons for their love of the nude but there is a power in the naked form. And the human body is beautiful. This drives some of it and of course, there's the sexy angle too.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the nudity taboo time and culture dependent?
As already mentioned in the comments below, in the BC era everybody was depicted naked. Maybe during and after the Renaissance naked women's breasts weren't considered an offensive sight, and only the genitals (both male and female) were covered with some piece of cloth (or kept out of view by crossing the legs)?
I think the obsession with boobs is a relatively modern obsession. Anyway, great piece!
Ah the poorly draped women of legend! Another great post, Maura - educational and entertaining!
Thanks, George! At least when you look at art and sculptures in the BCE era nudity is fair game for everyone! Generally, (not always true) it's from the Renaissance on where the boobs-out brigade begins. Just title your image of a reclining lovely Venus and full frontal nudity is allowed. Check out 'Venus of Urbino' by our pal Titian... the OG single-name artist.
It's kind of interesting that artists were all about the nudity. Is it because they are trying to show the natural state of humans? Clothes being a modern convenience? A bit like how portraits these days don't usually include mobile phones? Or am I being ridiculous?
Yes, those arguments can be made, including that it's a sign of disregard for human inhibitions (they are Goddesses after all). Of course, different peoples view nudity differently (having a sauna in Ireland and Northern Europe are very different experiences 😉). Originally, artists needed to understand anatomy so they learned from nude models and become comfortable with that. Not that I'm telling you things you don't know! I suppose I mean to note that artists can come up lots of reasons for their love of the nude but there is a power in the naked form. And the human body is beautiful. This drives some of it and of course, there's the sexy angle too.
Loved this, Maura!
Thanks! 😄
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the nudity taboo time and culture dependent?
As already mentioned in the comments below, in the BC era everybody was depicted naked. Maybe during and after the Renaissance naked women's breasts weren't considered an offensive sight, and only the genitals (both male and female) were covered with some piece of cloth (or kept out of view by crossing the legs)?
I think the obsession with boobs is a relatively modern obsession. Anyway, great piece!