The Naked Nude

The representation of the nude in art has evolved from a victory of fiction over fact to a raw, uncomfortable, and provocative depiction of variously gendered bodies. Frances Borzello explores the role of the nude in twentieth- and twenty-first-century art, looking at the work of international artists creating contemporary nudes. She argues that the nude has survived and flourished in an art world that prematurely announced its demise, and that it has the capacity to disrupt traditional hierarchies and gender categories in life and art.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 18 August 2022
Publisher: Thames & Hudson Ltd

The depiction of the nude in art has long been a triumph of imagination over reality, portraying the unclothed body as beautiful, handsome, and flawless, distancing it from any uncomfortably explicit taint of sexuality, eroticism, or imperfection. In this revised study, Frances Borzello contrasts the civilized, sanitized, perfected nude depicted in Kenneth Clark's classic The Nude: A Study in Ideal Form (1956) with the raw, uncomfortable, and provocative depictions of today. Grittier and more subtle, these new nudes depict variously gendered bodies, raising awkward questions and behaving provocatively. They are a very naked nude, created to address the issues and contradictions surrounding the body in our time.

Borzello delves into the role of the nude in twentieth- and twenty-first-century art, examining the work of a diverse range of international artists creating contemporary nudes. Her captivating text is complemented by a plethora of carefully selected, unusual, and beautifully reproduced illustrations. The story begins with an investigation into how and why the nude has survived and flourished in an art world that prematurely declared its demise. Subsequent chapters take a thematic approach, focusing on body art and performance art, the new perspectives of women artists, the nude in painting, portraiture, and sculpture, and its most extreme and graphic expressions that intentionally push the boundaries of both art and our comfort zone.

The final chapter illustrates radical developments in art and culture over the past decade, particularly focusing on artworks by women, trans, and nonbinary artists. These artists have challenged traditional notions of the nude and explored new ways of representing the body, challenging societal norms and expectations. The nude has become a powerful tool for these artists to express their identities, challenge gender norms, and explore the complexities of human experience.

In conclusion, the representation of the nude in art has evolved significantly over the centuries, from the civilized, sanitized, perfected nude of the past to the raw, uncomfortable, and provocative depictions of today. Borzello's study provides a valuable insight into this evolution, exploring the role of the nude in twentieth- and twenty-first-century art and the ways in which it has been used to express identity, challenge gender norms, and explore the complexities of human experience. The nude remains a powerful and evocative art form that continues to inspire and challenge us today.

Weight: 478g
Dimension: 155 x 230 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780500296677