Open your eyes
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| | Different approaches to the nude - Checklist |
Contextual notes:
The naked form has been one of the dominant artistic themes since classical times. In painting and sculpture there can be the illusion of a separation between a real person and the work itself and this makes it more acceptable to polite society and allowed it access to the prudish salons of the nineteenth century. With photography there is no separation and it is, in most cases, a real person we are seeing and this raises artistic and moral questions. We find it difficult to ignore nagging fears about the exploitation of the participants even when they are willing and this is made all the more difficult when the motivations and morals of the photographer are unclear.
The examples selected highlight different sensitivities and approaches of the photographers. The unashamed full frontal pride in the body is the hallmark of Helmut Newton in this image which comes from his series "Big Nudes". The wonderfully curved and rounded back shot taken by Edward Weston looks more like a piece of fruit with all the symbolism that goes with that. The 1951 photograph by Bill Brandt is masterful for the depth of field and context. Here we do not need to see the entire form and two legs are sufficient to give us a sense of mystery. What is hidden is often far more sensual than what is shown. |
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Open your eyes
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