Lack of Male Nudity in Artwork
I am decorating my new study. Tasteful nudes will be a prominent theme in the artwork. There is a plethora of paintings and photography of nude women. However, I find it next to impossible to find artwork that celebrates the male body with the same reverence given to the female form.
Dont get me wrong, I find the nude female form (regardless of age, shape or size) a thing of beauty and should be admired. However, I find the nude male body equally beautiful, deserving the same level prominence in the artwork that adorns the wall of my study.
Am I wrong, or am I just looking in the wrong places?
I would love to hear your thoughts. Any help finding nude male artwork will be appreciated.
Two of the worlds most famous sculptures are nude males, David and The Thinker. Many more male nudes in renaissance art too.
There have been many topics on the site about nude modelling for art classes, and its been exclusively older men who want to do it or already have done it. So there must be an overwhelming amount of nude male art out there in the world.
Probably you look for 2D artwork to put on the wall. Else I would have proposed my favorite nude male sculpture, L'Angelo Della Citta by Marino Marini, present at the Peggy Guggenheim collection in Venice.
But for flat art, many this overview helps:
https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/male-nudes-art/
Or you do some own paintings...
If you are looking for photo art, Annie Leibowitz for example did some great nude portraits.
Thank you for your responses. However, you are missing the overarching point of the post.
Do you see a disparity in the depiction of nude men and women in modern art and photography?
If so, do you care to share a hypothesis on the reasons?
Having studied art history, I see only a traditional disparity between male and female nudes in art. Here's the AI explanation I was offered:
Historically, female nudity is generally considered more common in art than male nudity, particularly in Western art traditions, where the female nude has often been depicted as an idealized subject, especially during the Renaissance period; however, this varies depending on the artistic style, era, and cultural context.
Key points to consider:
Classical influence:
Ancient Greek art heavily featured the male nude, depicting athletic figures, but later artistic movements often favored the female form for aesthetic reasons.
Religious themes:
In some religious art, both male and female nudity might be depicted, like the story of Adam and Eve.
Modern art:
Contemporary art movements often challenge traditional depictions of nudity, showcasing diverse body types and genders more equally.
Lastly, with digital art print services you can order essentially any piece of art in whatever format you wish, so have fun furnishing your home!
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