“The Nude in Art: Some Opposing Categories (original) (raw)

When considering the nude in the history of Western art, one encounters various paired categories, some of which are closely related to or derivative of others:

Matters of Gender, Religion, and Ideology

*** = linked material .

• ***Naked vs. Nude
• Male (Apollo, Christ, Sebastian) vs. Female (Venus, Susannah, Andromeda)
• ***Celestial (Crystalline) vs. Vulgar (or Natural, Earthy, Vegetable) Apphrodite
• Abstract force of generation (life force) or individuated sexuality
• ***Northern vs Southern (Classical, Mediterranean) ideal nudes
• Empowered (Venus, Perseus) vs. Victim (Marsyas, Andromeda)
• Mythological (Niobe, Marsyas, Andromeda) Victims vs Biblical Ones (Samson, Christ, martyred saints)
• Mythological (Venus, Apollo) vs. Allegorical (Victory, Sorrow)

Formal Considerations [no material links to these categories]

• Fully unclothed vs. Filmy transparent garments
• Standing vs. Seated, kneeling, or reclining
• Static vs. Kinetic
• Single vs. Multiple figures
• Two-dimensional (painting, drawing) vs. Three-dimensional (sculpture)
• Front vs. Back

Last modified 16 February 2007