Fear of the Male Nude

In Art, and life. What happened and why are we so afraid of it?

We all know female nudes dominate museums and the art market, with most of those artworks created by men. This topic is frequently discussed, especially in modern times. But was this always the case? Looking back at masters like Caravaggio and Rembrandt, the male form played a dominant role, with many artworks featuring male nudity. The male nude is also prominent in Greek mythology and artwork. Simply put, the male body and form were not unusual; they were widely shown and accepted.

From left to right… Carravagio, Rembrandt

So when did this outlook shift? Without delving into a detailed scholarly analysis (I do not have a doctorate, or any degree for that matter), the main factor that comes to mind is religion. While women were seen as child bearers and their form more pleasing and sensual (like the Virgin Mary), the male form was shunned from an artistic perspective. Men were viewed as "warriors," and a "real man" didn’t find other men attractive. The church’s well-known stance on queerness contributed to the exclusion of the male nude from the art world. Aside from depictions of Christ on the cross, the male figure was vehemently shunned. Even today, religious conservatives sometimes protest the exposure of their children to classical artworks like Michelangelo's David in Italy.

This is an absolute shame.

These thoughts emerged months ago while I was exploring ideas for a new series involving the male figure. During my research for inspiration, I found very little outside the Renaissance and Baroque periods or in Greek mythology and Roman times. In modern art, the male form is often not considered beautiful. This realization sparked my determination to challenge this concept in my recent series, “Chiaroscuro.”

In “Chiaroscuro,” I aimed to reclaim the aesthetic value of the male form by emphasizing its inherent strength and vulnerability. By using dramatic contrasts of light and shadow, a hallmark of the chiaroscuro technique, I sought to evoke the same reverence that classical artists once did. My goal was not just to depict the male body but to celebrate its complexity and beauty, pushing against contemporary norms that often overlook it.

Through this series, I hope to initiate a dialogue about the artistic representation of the male figure and encourage viewers to appreciate its beauty with a renewed perspective. This work is a tribute to the past masters and a step towards redefining modern aesthetics.

Four examples, and favorite photographs, from my recent series involving the male form.

When I began posting the photographs from this series on social media, I knew they wouldn’t generate as much engagement and interest as those featuring the female form. This disparity doesn’t bother me, but it does make me curious. It seems that women have no problem liking or engaging with artistic photographs of the female form; in many cases, they admire and promote such images. Men, predictably, also easily engage with photographs of the female form. However, there is a noticeable difference when it comes to artistic photographs of the male form. Many men do not engage with these images, and I even notice less women do as well, though not as much.

The reasons for this are varied and complex, but it’s unfortunate that we’ve reached this point. It’s a shame that the male form, especially the full nude form, cannot be appreciated by other men without them feeling fragile, feminine, or “less of a man.” This reluctance to engage with male nudes reflects deeper issues in how masculinity is perceived and expressed in our society. By challenging these norms through the series of mine I mentioned, I hope to encourage a more inclusive and appreciative view of the male body.

William Etty - Academic Study of a Male Nude Lying on a Shroud on Rocks

So, what happened? What changed? Was it Victorian ideals and religion? The societal repression of homosexuality? Why are we, as a global society, so afraid of the male nude form?

I don’t have a definitive answer, but I do have an opinion. I was born too late to be Gen X and too early to be a full Millennial, identifying instead as an elder Millennial. When Gen X was enjoying the music of the 80s, I was just a toddler. Even before my birth, a significant portion of society was ingrained with the belief that sex is inherently bad (unless you are married), that God is always watching (Sunday School, anyone?), and that same-sex attraction is wrong.

Growing up, my parents would call me a baby or sissy for crying. Expressing sadness or feelings was met with demands to “grow up” and “be a man.” Phrases like “Stop acting like a girl” were common in my household, and community, and especially in sports. The nuclear family, heterosexuality, and traditional masculinity were aggressively imposed upon me. And I know I’m not alone in this experience.

As a teenager, I couldn't imagine admiring a male nude painting and expressing that to my parents without them immediately questioning my sexuality. Saying it to a friend would elicit a similar or even harsher response. We were expected to show absolutely no feminine traits. None. This was in the early 80s, and I’m sure it was even worse from the 30s through the 70s. America is incredibly prudish, and while other regions of the world might not be as conservative, the overall consensus still favors prudishness when it comes to the male nude.

Male Nude known as Patroclus by Jacques Louis David

I'm not here to change the collective mind of the world, but I do want to change myself, at the very least. I want to photograph more nude men; I want to see more paintings of them, and more artwork in general. And however that makes you, the reader, feel, I frankly don't care. This desire doesn’t alter who I am, nor does it change my sexual preferences. It simply opens up a world to me that has been unjustly shunned for far too long.

The male nude has been marginalized in modern art, and it’s time to challenge that. I hope to see more contemporary artists embracing the male nude, and for the art world and museums to reflect a balanced representation. All genders, in all their forms, are stunningly beautiful. It’s about time we celebrated that beauty equally, without prejudice or discomfort. If we can appreciate the female form in its entirety, why can't we do the same for men? It’s not just an artistic endeavor but a cultural shift towards inclusivity and genuine expression.

Let’s embrace this change together. Because every body, in every form, deserves to be seen, admired, and respected.