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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminist nude painting - what is your favourite portrayal of a woman's body?

173 replies

Imperfectionist · 12/01/2012 21:55

The breast implant issue and re-ignition of the debate about modern ideals of a woman's body, especially a much-quoted survey in which school children shown photos of nude women picked the ones with implants as looking most natural, has made me want to make sure we have plenty of representations of normal (and beautiful) female forms in my house, for my daughter.

I do not read and certainly do not have in the house any magazines or media with images of women looking like they've had extensive surgery. My daughter (only three years old) often sees me (a normal shaped size 12 with post-breastfeeding boobs) naked and has good healthy female role models around her. We have lots of pictures on the wall, framed prints from galleries I've visited over the years, and I would like to choose a beautiful nude painting to join them, showing breasts in all of their natural glory.

I've racked my brains, and googled, and wondered if one of you might recommend your favourite portrayal of a non-surgically-enhanced naked woman in paint. The classical artists are sometimes too idealised; and often had barbie boobs even back in Michaelangelo's day. Some nudes are too sexually suggestive for what I'm looking for. I want a painting of a naked woman who radiates strength and beauty, who is comfortable in her skin, with no hint of voyeurism or titillation by the artist.

So... any recommendations for a feminist-inspiring nude painting? Hopefully one I can buy online from the National Gallery or online!

OP posts:
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LRDtheFeministDragon · 13/01/2012 16:15

'first there is the painful knowning process'.

Grin

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tethersend · 13/01/2012 16:18

Marina Abramovich is well worth a look, although she is a performance artist.

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thunderboltsandlightning · 13/01/2012 16:19

The bland status quo (in this case - isn't it great to look at naked women and we'll even call it feminist) always stands over more demanding analysis e.g. why is it so important that women are portrayed naked and displayed. People simply don't want to look at the latter.

The Guerilla Girls made the point but obviously not hard enough.

If three year old boys don't need pictures of naked men around the house for their self esteem, then why do three year old girls, unless it's about making sure that three year old girls know what women are for, and what their role will be when they grow up - to be looked at, to be assessed, to be displayed. More naked women doesn't counter the culture of display and objectification of women, it reinforces it.

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LRDtheFeministDragon · 13/01/2012 16:20

Do you have any links, tethers - I checked youtube but it's not coming up with anything. Confused

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tethersend · 13/01/2012 16:22
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tethersend · 13/01/2012 16:24

Here, LRD Smile

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LRDtheFeministDragon · 13/01/2012 16:26

Thanks! Smile

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TheSmallClanger · 13/01/2012 22:17

Pierre Bonnard did some lovely pictures of his wife Marthe in the bath. He often painted her, usually clothed.

In terms of feminist art, there is more to it than pictures of naked women. You could try having a look at Niki de st. Phalle's female images, or Pauline Boty's attractive critiques of conventional, media femininity.

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WidowWadman · 13/01/2012 23:06

LRD - thing is that nudes in art often aren't about sexual objectification anyway, at least that's how I see it. It's lovely to draw a nude body, looking at shapes, how the light falls onto it, how it moves. A good life model needn't be attractive in conventional terms as long as he or she is able to hold a pose for a while.

I've started modelling after taking some drawing classes as I wanted to find out what it's like, and I like looking at the drawings when they're done.

And yes, in a way, the model is objectified, after all, it's about drawing his or her body, not having meaningful discussions about the meaning of life. But it's nothing to do at all with sexual objectification at all, and it doesn't matter whether it's a male or female model, or whether the students who are drawing are male or female.

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LRDtheFeministDragon · 13/01/2012 23:28

I think the issue for me is that it's nearly impossible to tell when a naked woman isn't being objectified, if there's someone gaining money or power or status from looking at her. And art does give money and status, and maybe power.

I don't mean every time someone does life drawing they're turning into an evil exploiter of women (least I hope not because I used to love drawing). But I don't find it easy to ignore the power dynamic either.

For me personally, a big part of the difficulty is that women's bodies look like each other; it's hard not to look at a lovely, beautiful image like some of those linked to on this thread and (esp. if you're in a depressive mood) see the way that same body has been exploited. Sad

Sorry, that is dead depressing, I know, but I have some images on my mind that are bothering me atm.

Anyway, I really don't want to derail so will stop trying to explain myself.

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rosy71 · 14/01/2012 08:56

And I also want to have on the wall, somewhere in our house, a natural pair of breasts

This bit conjured up a bizarre image!! Seriously, I don't know why you need to have a painting of a nude woman on your wall Confused unless it's so your daughter can appreciate art. Like others have said, boys don't need to have paintings of nude men on the wall.

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WidowWadman · 14/01/2012 22:08

rosy71 The OP doesn't read like the gender of the child is relevant Confused

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Imperfectionist · 15/01/2012 13:14

Hello again, I've been away and only just caught up with this thread. I'm going to sit down tonight and have a close look at all the links you have given, and am looking forward to doing so.

Actually WW the gender of my child (a girl) is important: I want to have, in our home, examples of woman who are beautiful to look at (and we all know that beauty be found in many ways, not just a pretty face and slim figure) and who are not surgically enhanced, or sexually objectified. I love art - all genres - and I love portraiture. And I love the female body (including my own Grin). I do not particularly like gazing at the male body as much (although I am hetero and happily married).

OP posts:
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MarshaBrady · 15/01/2012 13:42

Imperfectionist what do you think of the artist I mentioned that does photography? Rineke Dijkstra.

It is difficult to cut through the notion of passively observing a female 'nude'. In fact nude is a loaded term, with its own history and meaning.

I think she jolts us into realising the females are naked, but also lends them strength and tenderness. Probably a bit too much for a wall in your home though.

(The ones with mothers holding a newborn.)

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kittensmakemesqueee · 15/01/2012 17:27

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&biw=1280&bih=667&tbm=isch&tbnid=reRVo3-Eka4XbM:&imgrefurl=babydustdiaries.com/2008/11/pregnant-art/&docid=XP8JtT51Bddv6M&imgurl=farm3.static.flickr.com/2380/1809935246_2e8a83b939.jpg&w=500&h=377&ei=ggsTT_TSFKqP4gTuzqHdAw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=475&sig=110273990778078556695&page=1&tbnh=140&tbnw=191&start=0&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0&tx=108&ty=72" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">i like this

and <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&biw=1280&bih=667&tbm=isch&tbnid=SXHQTzU11vd7_M:&imgrefurl=breastfeedingqueries.wordpress.com/2011/11/03/thoughts-on-birth-and-breastfeeding/&docid=f4JzGoVJEAWY1M&imgurl=breastfeedingqueries.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/21_klimt_mother_chile.jpg&w=300&h=450&ei=ggsTT_TSFKqP4gTuzqHdAw&zoom=1" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">this

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kittensmakemesqueee · 15/01/2012 17:31

Btw I think the human body is perfect in it's natural state..but from a very early age we are told to be ashamed of it, to feel disgusted by it..and to not understand that we are perfect just as we are. Which is why I am constantly covered up because I don't want anyone to see my hideous flesh. I think having a couple of nudes around the house and being left there as though they are totally normal is a great idea. Especially for a parent of a girl. I don't think men need to see paintings of a powerful man with his cock out because basically that's implied every day.

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thunderboltsandlightning · 15/01/2012 17:37

Putting nude women on the wall doesn't counteract the "female bodies are disgusting" myth though. Nor is it the body in it's natural state - it's a painting.

Maybe if all the people who feel very strongly about that myth walked around naked it might help.

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thunderboltsandlightning · 15/01/2012 17:38

"I do not particularly like gazing at the male body as much"

I thought this was about your daughter though, not you OP.

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ginmakesitallok · 15/01/2012 17:47

What about something by Francesca Woodman? here

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kittensmakemesqueee · 15/01/2012 18:01

Thunderbolts I'd love to walk around naked but the I can't afford the years of therapy it would cost me. Did you see the paintings I linked to? Can you really take offense to them? Do you also dislike male nudes? If the Op enjoys art and likes having painting around her home anyway..wouldn't NOT showing a nude (when they are such a prolific theme in art) be a bit conspicuous? Almost like it was something to be hidden?

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AThingInYourLife · 15/01/2012 18:14

I think as long as you are buying into the "female bodies are beautiful, male bodies are not" sexist trope (companion to "men are visual creatures), you aren't going to be teaching your daughter anything healthy about her body by putting a picture of a naked woman on your wall for her to gaze at.

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thunderboltsandlightning · 15/01/2012 18:15

I'm not taking offense, I'm making a political argument. There's a difference kittens.

I'm sure the OP will do what she wants, but she was couching her plans in feminist terms and I'm not sure it's possible to do that.

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ValarMorghulis · 15/01/2012 18:19

not a painting. photo of me with DS. He was about 15 minutes old and i was starkers, sweaty knackered but deliriously happy.

my body was not perfect by societies aesthetic al ideals, but it had just done the very thing it was created for.

I can think of no piece of "art" more beautiful

and i am no beauty i can assure you

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thunderboltsandlightning · 15/01/2012 18:20

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alexpolismum · 15/01/2012 18:29

OP, do you really find no beauty in the male form? <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.gr/imgres?imgurl=cruises.about.com/library/graphics/florence/101-0112_IMG.JPG&imgrefurl=cruises.about.com/cs/europe/l/blflo03.htm&h=533&w=400&sz=26&tbnid=zOeH_XGY-qTBJM:&tbnh=91&tbnw=68&prev=/search%3Fq%3DSTATUE%2BOF%2BDAVID%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=STATUE+OF+DAVID&docid=OrpVK80QsEwTzM&sa=X&ei=qhoTT5mJCpKZhQeD1f2nAg&ved=0CFAQ9QEwBg&dur=3527" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">here is a picture of a beautiful male form, see what you think of it

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