Capstone

A sneak peak

Mirror, 2012 (Jenny Saville)

The Reclining Nude in Western Art:

Laying symbolism bare & Putting the male gaze to rest

Abstract:

This paper uses art historical research to investigate the origins of the reclining nude as a cultural phenomena and painterly tradition in Western culture. Beginning with art historical examples from the 16th century and ending with artworks for the 21st century, this paper traces the tradition and its effects on the depiction and objectification of the female body. In particular, this paper suggests that the representation of the nude body through art history is intimately connected with the solidification and perpetuation of the male gaze in western culture. Ultimately in observing its evolution, this thesis offers a framework for understanding the persistence of the reclining nude tradition and its frequent readaption. This thesis attempts to unify historical and cultural findings to create a lens that can be used to interpret contemporary adaptations of the reclining nude made specifically by women artists. Ultimately, the research carried out in this paper attempts to comprehend how the reclining nude has been used in contemporary culture to subvert tradition and thus deconstruct the male gaze.

Keywords:

reclining nude, female body, representation, depiction, autonomy, painting, male gaze, nudity