Natural Beauty 

Throughout history, the human form has been revered, worshipped and depicted in many artistic styles as artists have appreciated ‘natural beauty’.

The medieval church used artistic nudity to teach religion to the illiterate masses. Adam and Eve are unaware that they are naked until they eat of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Nudity was considered sinful, and yet the painting of Michelangelo’s in the Sistine Chapel is imbued with it.

In the Renaissance, nude art changed highlighting its aesthetic and sensual qualities. The Birth of Venus, painted by Botticelli in 1485, is considered the first nude painting without a religious reference. Five years later, Leonardo da Vinci’s anatomical representation of the Vitruvian Man served purely artistic and scientific purposes.

The Mannerist period brought many changes, as nude painting was freed from all constraints and religious considerations. The Romantic period, with its desire to depict reality, exoticism and also harem fantasies, also brought new perspectives.

At the end of the 19th century, the Impressionist painters were heavily criticized for their scandalous paintings of naked working-class women.

Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele created works that emphasized intense sexuality with twisted forms and a touch of classicism and bourgeoisie. The era of expressionism saw famous German artists taking nude painting to a new level.

‘Natural beauty’ has established itself as an art form in all its styles and manifestations. Some artists place it at the centre of their work, but the days of scandalous outrage seem to be over.

The Exhibition October 2024

As part of the ‘Art Culture Culinary’ event series, the busy people art gallery is delighted to present selected works on the ‘Natural Beauty’ theme.
Over the years, the human form has been depicted in various artistic styles. Nude images seem to have left their mark on history, more specifically, the female form emphasises the embodiment of beauty, desire, lust, reverie and all that is considered forbidden.
From the old masters to modern greats, artists have succeeded in portraying ‘Natural Beauty’ .