to see you naked is to recall the earth: nude paintings of the female form
73I was in the zone researching for the second part of my series on art movements when I stumbled upon a major blockade - a parade of nude women that seem to appear in every high and low points of art history. There they were, dumbfounding this viewer into an ecstatic state. Truly, the image of the naked female form is the flower of the arts, the eight wonder of the world, the seventh heaven...on earth.
I was originally going to title this hub "Step Right Up!: Nude Women on Display," to better kill the cat but it sounded disrespectful of the genius minds behind the objet d'arts not to mention down right ...... So in tribute to all mothers, sisters, wives. partners and friends of all shape, color and creed - and to the boys, men and other women who love you - here is my homage. Woman, your body is a wonderland.
main title quotation: federico garcia lorca, spanish poet and dramatist
portrait of a young woman / la fornarina (1518-1519)
by Raphael
The subject in this Renaissance-period painting is said to be that of Margherita Luti, Raphael's mistress. Fornarina means bakeress. Point of interests in the painting are the subject's oriental headdress and the right hand on the left breas which is either trying to conceal the breast or placing it into full view.
venus at her mirror / the rokeby venus (1647-1651)
by Diego Velazquez
In this Baroque-period painting, Venus is shown gazing at her mirror held by her son Cupid, the god of love. This depiction is considered both conventional (ie, Venus was a popular subject and is shown in a sensual pose common during the era) and a departure from the norm because she has her back turned from the observer.
la maja desnuda / the nude maja (1797-1800)
by Francisco Goya
This Romantic painting has another version called la maja vestida/the clothed maja. Scholars in Western art have had arguments on whether this painting was the first to clearly show pubic hair and on whether the subject was indeed the Duchess of Alba, Goya's alleged paramour. At any rate, the painting was considered obscene at its unveiling.
grande odalisque (1814)
by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres
This painting is best known for the painter's sensual treatment of the female figure. Despite its being different from other neoclassical works, it's subject being a Turkish odalisque, scholars maintain that the work is inspired by Greek art. Odalisque means an enslaved woman or concubine in a harem.
olympia (1863)
by Edouard Manet
French Impressionist painter Manet's subject was based on a Renaissance portrait by Titian, the Venus of Urbino (see inset). But unlike Titian's work, this painting was met with criticism because the woman looked too modern to be a mytholigical figure and her direct gaze at the observer was considered a moral affront.
the large bathers (1899-1902)
by Paul Cezanne
This Postimpressionist painting is considered a masterpiece of the modern art and the artist's most definitive work. The painting exhibits Cezanne's mastery of nontraditional figure representation (which he considered a failure) and his accomplished color modulation common to all his works.
les demoiselles d'avignon (1907)
by Pablo Picasso
Cubism is said to have originated from this painting which depicts several women in a brothel. The women are shown with distorted anatomical parts with faces, that look like African masks, that are broken into distinct planes.
nude descending a staircase no 2 (1912)
by Marcel Duchamp
The kinetic element of this painting by the French artist is, according to art experts, the product of the union two modernt art styles: Cubism and Futurism. Primarily known as a Cubist painting, this fragmented rendering of a nude woman caused a sensation when it was unveiled and was considered too radical.
my wife, nude, contemplating her own flesh becoming stairs, three vertebrae of a column, sky and architecture (1945)
by Salvador Dali
This Surrealist painting was done in the United States and is considered to be an expression of the artist's attempts at new classicism as can be attributed to the presence of the Greek bust affixed to the wall on the left side of the panel. Moreover, the title very much explains (or not) Dali's statement on the attainment of purity through flesh.
great american nude no 34
by Tom Wesselmann
This Pop Art painting is one of several erotic images included in the series Great American Nude. All the paintings in the collection are characterized by the depiction of women with prominent lips, nipples and pubic hair posed in three dimensional settings. The painter is also known for his bold outlines and colors that appear artificial and flat as can be seen here.
elke nude (1976)
by Georg Baselitz
This is a painting of the artist's wife Elke purposedly painted upside down - a technique that supposedly directs attention to the artwork's compositional qualities. Moreover, according to him, it also frees the viewer's imagination. The painting could be considered representational of the artist's Neoexpressionist works that are characterized by emotional rawness and an almost accidental application of thick layers of paint.
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Wow thanks! Now if you could just remember what's Dali's piece is called! Tricky isn't it? Ha ha I actually was going to put in a Jeff Koons for the likes of you (LOL - i'm just being a jerk!) but I might get censored or something. I know it's art but then again... :D
Wow! 101 Western Art History of Women In Nude. Really reminds me the old days when I was in art department. My husband is a sculptor and figurative is actually one of his favorite theme. I don't want you to think that I'm trying to advertise his work on your site but do like to share about one of his figurative series "Shadow Sculptures":
http://web.mac.com/jin8feng/Site/Sculpture/Pages/S
They are all done from Asian models. Enjoy!
Hi yxhuang! I was actually looking for some Oriental art from the various empires and periods in China and Japan but sadly i'm not as informed with them as well as I am with Western art. Have to go back to my books for that! Ha ha Great news about your hubby - i'll go check out his work and thanks for sharing the link and for dropping by! :D
Cris, wonderful hub! I am a true Cezanne fan so I am glad that you included his work. This was a great lesson. Thank you.
Thanks Trplet Mom! Cezanne is considered the father of modern art for nothing! Though it is unfortunate that he was largely ignored during his time...renown came much later. Anyways, thanks for viewing d'lovelies here! :D
Hi Cris,
You were right! Only the Grande Odalisque appears on our mutual hubs, which was quite a feat without conferring. You've included Olympia, which I did toy with as it's such a fabulous painting, but I decided against it as I had the other Manet in there. Have you ever seen Olympia in the flesh? She's stunning of course, but also very confrontational . She's challenging the onlooker with that knowing look, and her maid is bringing in the flowers, presumably from an admirer. I'm sure she ruffled a few feathers in her day. (Olympia, not the maid!)
(sigh) my biggest disappointment so far, not being able to see all my favourite paintings in the flesh! On the brighter side, there are people, like you, who could and i thank you for describing and sharing the experience! Oh the stories behind the paintings - all the intrigues, the mystery! Thanks for dropping by and hope you enjoyed the "parade"! :D
btw, i didn't have the odalisque initially, until a fan looked for it (see above)! so here she is now :D
Great taste, Cris! there's only few people I met that really appreciate arts not to mention the classy taste. I like your hub cris, it tells so much about your personality. Keep on going!
somebody from hubpages actually got me started on this artsy fartsy hubs! i just thought a lookback at what I did back in college would be a nice change for me :D glad you like this hub :D
Luv ur collection! Naked women weeeeee!
dali hit the nail in the head by going for the attainment of purity through flesh. all the images are stirring and stunning at the same time, it makes the looker want to keep looking. great compilation!
schoolboy - if it makes you happy... ;D
buddy - Dali surely did make it clear in what he called his painting what he was after! thanks for viewing! :D
You sly dog! Putting *naked women* in a hub that can't be flagged for "adult content". That said, your choices were excellent! Great job!
tricks of the trade! I learn fast, ha! LOL thanks for dropping by :D
More amazement on my part. All of these are delightful! And as with the 8 musical notes and 8 primarty colors resulting in endless variety, so is it with the human form. Same basic parts, but as with a snowflake, no two exactly the same. Kudos!
Karen
Karen, I just love the way you put about the human form. It's a work of art in itself, I agree.
Oh Chris. One of my favorite things (actually #1 on my list of wonder of the world).
I also paint nudes, among other things. I wish I could share them, but they are my precious ones, not to be shared until I die. I have no problem getting models either. The human form is the hardest to paint, especially the face. I have well over a dozen and I enjoy them all, as well as my visitors whom I share them with.
You made very good choices in what you've shown. thanx
Get outta here, C! You huwhat?! Argh my biggest frustration so far is to conduct a paintbrush! I took art studies/humanities waaay back in college but somehow i never got around to do actual painting outside of school! Though I still dabble - with charcoal mostly. Now I can forgive you for that Em hub! LOL
Anyways, glad you liked the selection in my mini gallery here!
Chris, I have decided to do some original art with your face in it just for you. I will show you what can be done, with my own hand. I will then do a hub on it and show you your art, a dream fulfilled. That is your face in the avatar is it not?
Give some time here, and I will surprise you my funniest of freinds. A few weeks ago I asked who was the funniest hubber, evryone pointed to toad and pest or even rockinjoe. But you are genius at it and so sneaky too.
I am proud to know you, a little anyway, and hope to read more of your genius.
Thanx
You gotta be kidding me! You will HU-WHAT?! (sorry, my favorite word of late! sounds like a karate grunt, huh? LOL)
Yep, that's my face in all its photoshopped glory! but don't worry, nothing much was changed - even my blind 'ol dog can tell without sniffing! Talk about incognito! Gee, thanks for the honor. And I think the pleasure is entirely mine. :D
see ya later, I got work to do here and damn! this hubbing takes up a lot of time. But it's great fun.
C-ya
Ahhh the work excuse! Man, I hate it that you have to hear it from me but here goes - you gotta set your priorities right and immediately so! Leave the salt mine! LOL see ya in a bit C!
Nice Hub! Good choices.
Thanks Ralph, glad you enjoyed this :D
Wonderful piece, Chris. My favorites over the years have been Cezanne's Bathers and Olympia by Manet. I've always been entraced by their use of the light in those paintings and their clarity in capturing the female form.
hi Dink96
Glad you also like this hub. We all have our favourites, don't we? Cezanne was a trailblazer, even Picasso and Duchamp thought so. They called him their father - how's that for a tribute? Thanks for dropping by :D
Great hub, I am becoming your fan NOW!
Thanks for the compliment! And thanks, too for signing up to my fan club NOW! LOL :D
Your face fits nicely into this painting. Bet you could find others! Nice art review.
Thanks Peggy W for dropping by. As for the painting, it's just one of the many products of my imagination! LOL :D
I found that so intriging and educating you learn alil something everyday.Couldnt of chosen a better choice of subject for you hub =D
It's sad that the bare body is seen as so obscene in public but so beautiful when alone with your partner or expressed in the form of art.
-Alana
Hi Alana
Thanks for droppin by. I'm glad you liked this.
So true about the body being seen as an oscenity but it's a good thing we know better :D
that what i love not in painting but in pics but i have to convert them into non nude by wasting my alot of time
I guess that forks the road for us then? Yeah I know, nude pictures is a no-no here in HP but I guess you can deal with that? Thanks for dropping a line :D
Cool Hub! The female body is art in movement. Thanks!
right you are. thanks tom :D
Chris, I love art. omg. Fantastic.
fantastic hub, really enjoyed it! Thanks for gathering all these pictures in one place.
AIDY
I know you do. Thanks for dropping a line :D
LondonGirl
Glad to hear you enjoyed this. And thanks for dropping by :D
Another nice hub. My Grandmother painted nudes. Actually she did a lot of charcoal. She told me she would use the body of one model and put the head of someone else on it. I never posed for her... kinda like my head where it is.
That's cool. And i perfectly understand your sentiment about not posing! LOL :D
nice, wonderful.
Thanks for dropping by :D
My secret passion is collecting oil paintings. I loved this hub. Very well done. As for the pubic hair, I say, she could possibly be the first woman painted after a boob job. Her breast were unreal. Thanks.
Well look who's here? If it isn't my friend from the Forums! LOL
Whose work do you collect? Do you collect randomly or you're looking for a particular theme/subject and/or artist? That should be a very expensive collection but good for you (and I envy you now!)
She could very well be but i'd have to check when breast enhancement was developed. :D
Hey yeah! I had to find out who it was I was miscommunicating with.
I collect at a random, but I'm really into Artist from Russia. I've wrote a couple of hubs about them. I'd love for you to check them out and tell what you think of them. I don't mean to be promoting myself. After reading your hub, I would sincerely like your opinion.
As for the tits- do they or do they not look fake. Perfectly round like a grapefruit. Gotta love'em or appreciate the artists redenition.
Russian artists? Interesting. I'll check them out soon as I find the time. Art takes some serious thinking, but of course you know that :D
Check out A.A. Deineka or Jury Frantsuzov.
i was over at your home page. just checking but i will go back :D
Hey thanks! I greatly appreciate any feedback you might have to offer me.
no problem. but take note that i can be very hasrh - attention-grabbing-kind-of- harsh! :D
It's funny, I must really like this hub. Here I am again!
Really good stuff CrisA.
RK
Yes, you must really love this. Really! :D
Some paintings are so real. It is really an art.
easegirl
So it's true then that art imitates life, or is that the other way around? Thanks for stopping by :D
Nice hub. Good work. Congratulations Cris A. You look like an expert on nudity.
laswi
Thanks for dropping by, glad you like it :D
my favorite is the salvador dali. I'm glad you called this hub what you did.
I love art, and when I lived in Chicago, I spent a great deal of time at The Art Institute. They have some amazing paintings there!! Great collection here, Cris!!!!
soulabee
Dali's plays tricks with the mind. I though the title fits in nicely with the images. :D
AMB
we share the same passion! Thanks for dropping by :D
Nicely written and presented. Thanks again.
Cailin
have you been out that long? This was published 6 months back! LOL Anyway glad you finally found your way here! Thanks for dropping by :D
Wonderfully expressed!! It was nice being able to see all the famous nudes presented together on one page. Brings back memories of visiting the Louvre and the Met. Been about fifteen years ago, but some great memories!! I saw the Matisse exhibit at the High Museum when I lived in Atlanta, one of my favorites!! Great Hubs, very enjoyable!! Peace~ K
It's my dream to go to the Louvre and/or the Met. Ah but I have to settle with this hub. Glad you liked this. Thanks for visiting.
Really nice hub! There are so many wonderful paintings of women and such great artists. We really are lucky! :))
yeah, John Mayer was right in saying a woman's body is a wonderland. thanks for dropping by :D
wonderful hub...
Thanks Ros :D
I really enjoyed this tribute to some lovely women and the great artists who painted them. Really a wonderful Hub. Thanks for sharing.
One artist who loved the naked female body (read that any way you will!) was the great Renoir. Why none of his? A small quibble - the Hub is great anyway!
Love and peace
Tony
You are quite about Renoir, a major oversight on my part. But still thanks for still liking this hub overall :D
Wonderfully hub with splendid illustrations...I especially like Pablo Picasso painting. Drawing the female figure is a requirement for most art students.
Thanks for dropping by. I missed out on drawing/painting in college as my course focused more on theories rather than application. :D
sexy hub
nice
Thanks for dropping a line :D
Great paintings and it's good to see nudes on the internet dealt with in a non-sexual manner. I think this is the first time so you have probably made history. Im partial to John William Waterhouse: You missed him. Otherwise your hub is great!
I liked this. Informative and caught my eye. Keep posting. Thanks!
@Mercredi
And so I missed out on Waterhouse and I thought I got everybody covered! Haha But thanks for pointing out the oversight
Btw, the ads on this one have been deactivated. Must be the "N" word in the title :D
@David
Thanks :D
goldentoad 3 years ago
Now I learned something today! I really like that Salvador Dali. This was a good hub. Props for staying classy too, I know it was hard to do. Ha!