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Nude Art
Photography
By
Maria A. Novatschkova
Nude
photography is the genre of art photography,
whose subject is the representation of the
naked (full nude) or partially naked (half
nude) human body.
The aesthetic
value of nude photography and its boundary
to erotic photography can only be determined
with difficulty and inter-subjectively and
is also affected by its numerous overlaps
with pornography. In consequence, nude
photography and erotic photography always
find themselves branded in multiple ways,
and labelled as works of artistic freedom,
aesthetics, kitsch, junk or provocation. The
boundaries of nude photography, erotic
photography and pornography are so undefined
and continuously changing that they are
always determined and defined by the
subjective moral view of the individual and
the generally accepted cultural confines of
“customs and tradition”.
Whether the
picture itself is art or junk always lies in
the eye of the beholder. One (subjective)
definition of the worth of a nude photograph
is: “A nude photo is then good, when the
Model shows it around at the coffee table at
her grandmother’s birthday party and
receives positive feedback.” (Günter
Rinnhofer) Other definitions have been by
far more controversial. For Horst Werner
this art form has always been about
provocation and evoking of emotions. He
prefers disgust, shock and aversion (as
evoked for example by his photographs of
nudes at a cemetery or of disabled people)
to indifference, which in his opinion, is
often the only reaction generated by other,
more conventional art styles. Additionally,
it is nowadays no longer such a taboo to
depict the primary sex features of a human
being. However, in contrast to pornography,
nude photography does not actively pursue to
excite the audience, although this does not
exclude that it is consumed with this
intention and effect.
Tasteful nude
photography is often regarded as high
skilled photography as besides technical
knowledge and the ability to manipulate
light the nude photographer also needs
strong communication skills and the ability
to build a positive relationship with his
model. A modelling contract between
photographer and model often includes
additional remuneration to the model besides
payment and publication rights.
Subgenres
and Subjets
“Feminine
nudity must be given to men by the
teaspoonful, not with a scoop.” (Coco
Chanel)
Nude
photography divides into three basic forms:
the "classic" full nude with a simple
background, full nude model where model is
completely naked; the detailed nude
depicting certain details of the body,
abstracting and making them anonymous, and
emphasising the forms and structures of the
nude; and finally the half nude, where the
model is partially clothed or partially
wrapped with accessories.
History
and development
The nude is a
classic subject in art. Already the early
high cultures (Egypt, Crete, India among
others) knew nude representations. Its
development into other representation forms
can be pursued from Greek clay to the art of
the middle ages and on to the European art
of the modern age. Since the renaissance,
the study of the nude human body is an
intrinsic part of art education at art
academies.
Since around
1847 the nude has also become the object of
photography, the first nude photographers
including Philippe Debussy, E. Delacroix,
Eugene Durieu and B. Braquehais. Models were
both professionals and prostitutes and
photographs were both artistic and “spicy”,
which often invited the aversion of moral
and law enforcement officers.
Important
Nude Photographers
• Bettina Rheims David Bailey
• Eric Kroll Helmut Newton
• Jan Saudek Meister der Koloriertechnik (kolorieren)
• Paul Outerbridge Petter Hegre
• Richard Kern Roy Stuart
• Robert Mapplethorpe Sam Haskins
This article
was first published by Maria A. Novatschkova,
art critic at
Poster-art-gallery.com > nude photography
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Maria_A._Novatschkova
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