Who Likes Fine Art Nudes? (choice, sexuality)

[jamaesi]

For those afraid of being led into sin by the shameful natural naked human form, there are always safe versions of famous pieces of art!

[Sunstone]

Originally Posted by PureX

Not all "titillation" is of a sexual nature. For example, we're also similarly titillated by scale changes, and by expressions of obsessive human activity, and by bizarre juxtapositions. Think of Rauchenberg's large outdoor sculptures of common utilitarian objects (garden spades, electrical outlets, etc.) or the many miniature vignettes we see in museums, or Dali's surrealist paintings and jewelry. The truth is that it's fairly easy to fascinate people with such simple tricks. Don't get me wrong; I also enjoy seeing these "tricks" as they're naturally fascinating to we humans, and I'm a human, too. But as works of art I put them in a category of lesser artistic value - sort of like representational drawing and painting, or craft-works.

I now think I much better understand what you're saying, PureX, and it's a great point. I think we have a slight difference in philosophies as I tend not to rank art as of greater or lesser value. I figure to leave that to art historians and others who are interested in the value of art. But your point about titillation is well made and true so far as I can see. I would not, however, personally classify all fine art nudes as merely works that rely on titillation for their effects, yet I certainly have seen plenty that do.

My own method of appreciation is to study a work for some time, then forget about it. If it made any impression on me at all, then some opinions about it might bubble up from somewhere over the next few days or weeks. Apparently, I don't have Standing Alone's quick eye, or quick ability to articulate what her eyes see.

[michel]

Originally Posted by jamaesi

For those afraid of being led into sin by the shameful natural naked human form, there are always safe versions of famous pieces of art!

hehe; Those pieces look somewhat absurd..........

[jamaesi]

Originally Posted by michel

hehe; Those pieces look somewhat absurd..........

This is my favourite out of the seven or so pages of the safe art.

I love the irony with a lot of the images that when they're "clothed" and "safe" the skimpy outfits make the pictures sexualised when they were just an innocent picture before.

[standing_alone]

Originally Posted by jamaesi

This is my favourite out of the seven or so pages of the safe art.

I was going to mention that one in a post responding to yours, but didn't want to make a post just for that (well, now I sort of did anyway ). That was my favorite one, too!

[Ðanisty]

As a portrait artist, I absolute adore fine art nudes...both drawings and photography. If an artist ever hopes to understand the human form, it is absolutely necessary to study the nude human form. When I was in high school, I was involved in a special program at a local art college where we had a fine arts professor teach us art and we always drew from live models. Sometimes they were nude, sometimes not. The nude models weren't always particularly attractive people, although I have to say, when one really studies their form in such an intimate way as drawing it, all people become attractive in their own way.

[Sunstone]

Originally Posted by Jayhawker Soule

Let it go, Sunstone. You walk into a store and notice three books:

1. Male Nudes
2. Female Nudes
3. The Ecology of Your Carrot Garden

Which do you find more interesting?

Honestly Jay! With a geek like me, what chance is there for the nudes when I could be reading science? Art is my second love!

One of my hobbies is figure drawing. I draw both male and female nudes. My walls are covered with sketches, and there are somewhat more females than there are males. So, I suppose I must concede your point, especially since some time ago I even drew an erotic nude, and it was of a female. Worse, I can still recall the loving tenderness with which I caressingly shaded in her skin tones. So, I give up. Following the ecology of carrots, I love nude women most!

I just remembered that Picasso once said, "Art is sex." That dooms me!

Seriously, Jay, you most probably have a solid point.

[Jayhawker Soule]

Originally Posted by Sunstone

I just remembered that Picasso once said, "Art is sex." That dooms me! Seriously, Jay, you most probably have a solid point.

But Picasso beat me to it!