Nudes emphasize the study or celebration of anatomy, regarding bodies as beautiful (or not so beautiful) aspects of nature.

Nudes can be erotic, voyeuristic, or exploitative, depending on the artist’s motives and the pose depicted. Nudes can also be a pure expression of appreciation for the complex and subtle forms that result from the interaction of bones, muscle, fat, and skin.

Nudes can be done as portraiture or as figurative works that deemphasize the specific individual. An artist might also choose to depict nudes in an allegorical piece that places one or more subjects within a symbolic/dramatic setting. Finally, an artist might choose this genre as a vehicle for aesthetic expression, emphasizing abstraction, mark making, distortions, and/or palette exploration.

Featured: Female Nude by Gustav Klimt.