Thanks for posting this. I take a lot of nude self portraits and the engagement on them is very low. I agree that it likely has a lot to do with the stigma of theale nude. But I also can't help but think maybe my work just isn't that good. Either way, I plan to continue to hone my craft and do my part to change the perception of the art form.
Hmm, interesting. As a male life model, I don't feel that I get any less work than my female counterparts. My local life drawing group, where I draw as well as model, has as many male models as female, and each session is as well attended whether males or females are modelling. There are generally more female artists than male. This is rural east central Scotland.
That’s amazing to hear! I’m not saying it’s not available— it is here in the states as well, but it’s not seen in galleries, showcases, or even on social media nearly as much. Privately I’m sure it’s much more popular however people, seem to be, more frightened to share it or comment on it or even engage in it in any way.
Thanks for sharing your views Michael, they're very interesting. I must be around the same age as you for what you describe and I too grew up in an environment that frowned upon any softness of my masculinity. However, art taught me to appreciate the human body both male and female equally. My work now was born from an obsession with the human body and it's potential not just physical but intellectually as well so I can understand your admiration for the human body.
Historically you're not too far off, while Greek and Roman artists were fascinated with the human body, Christianity in the early middle ages changed the narrative into religious adoration. But look at Japan in that period, they were obsessed with the human body. Later in the renaissance art took a turn looking back into the Greek and Roman adoration of the human body and from then on it's been clothes on-clothes off non stopping depending on who was the trend setter of each period until photography arrived and was able to capture the human body as it is, without artistic interpretations.
Michael, thank you for the article and for raising the questions. I was speculating on this topic specifically a couple weeks ago - why have male nudes all but disappeared from art? They stopped during the impressionist period, so around the 1860s.
I'm a female figure model (photographic and live art - I model 30 hours a a week) and I'm a photographer. I have done both for 15 years. I'm a survivor of incest and other childhood traumas, so when I make my own art work, I make nude self portraits to process my emotions. They are NOT well-received on social media. In fact, Instagram and Facebook have continually removed and flagged the posting of tasteful fine art nudes; but all of the p*rn images I see when I scroll are just fine to keep recommending. Just today, I posted that I had a tintype (self-portrait with one exposed breast) accepted as a finalist into a juried photo festival (the image is on their flier), but Instagram removed my content. My account is not recommended nor shown in any searches, yet I am still a major threat.
A friend shared that nude artwork I texted to him iPhone to iPhone came with 3 warnings - "This could be sensitive. Are you sure you want to view? Nude photos and videos can be used to hurt people. Once you view this, you can't unsee it." and "It's your choice, but make sure you feel safe." It now appears this type of censorship is no longer limited to public platforms but is occurring peer-to-peer via Apple phones and Verizon networks.
It seems more apropos that currently, not religion, corporations and social media are behind the attacks against all nude bodies being depicted in safe, empowering ways. If the nude body can be used and exploited, they're all in, but when a body is reclaimed and shown as beautiful, as empowered, as filled with life, perfectly imperfect, that's triggering to corporations and their profits. If we don't hate ourselves, we won't buy products to change and improve ourselves, and they'll make less money. If we don't hate ourselves, we won't spend hours scrolling on social media instead of creating art.
This is an accurate description of what is happening for sure… vitriol, aggression, agitation, and sex all stir up comments and hits and engagement. They know this and the artistic side of nudity is shunned.
Beautiful thoughts through this exploration. I have grown up with the idea that men's bodies are not beautiful. I'm sure it stems from patriarchal ideals that shy away from gender discussions and that makes me so sad. I'm now open to challenge these and converse with others about their experience. I'm curious about my partner's history with this as well.
I, a straight Xennial woman, have only started admiring the beauty of the male form over the past couple of years. I mention my generation for the same reason you did -- purity culture really did a number on us, whether we were church-going or not, eh? And some of us (okay, me) are still unravelling all of that to find out who we really are underneath, who or what we find beautiful, and to learn to be sexual people without feeling guilt.
Thank you for this amazing article. As a child of the 70s, I can totally relate to your arguments and descriptions. I feel the same way. I find your approach to photographing the naked man very exciting and definitely worth pursuing further. Wonderful photographs.
What also stands out to me is that when men are shown naked, there’s a clear effort to avoid showing their genitals entirely, unlike the ancient Greeks, who were very true-to-life in their depictions. For women, it’s completely different. The genital area is often shown more openly—at least the so-called “shame area,” as we call it in Germany, which in itself says a lot.
I personally prefer photographing women because I find them more aesthetic than men, as a male, but I’ve started experimenting with nude self-portraits. I think you’ve sparked a question in me, and I’ll dive deeper into the topic of male nude photography.
Beautiful.. I’m here for more explorations. Thank you for the courage to speak and create on this topic.
Thanks for posting this. I take a lot of nude self portraits and the engagement on them is very low. I agree that it likely has a lot to do with the stigma of theale nude. But I also can't help but think maybe my work just isn't that good. Either way, I plan to continue to hone my craft and do my part to change the perception of the art form.
Hmm, interesting. As a male life model, I don't feel that I get any less work than my female counterparts. My local life drawing group, where I draw as well as model, has as many male models as female, and each session is as well attended whether males or females are modelling. There are generally more female artists than male. This is rural east central Scotland.
That’s amazing to hear! I’m not saying it’s not available— it is here in the states as well, but it’s not seen in galleries, showcases, or even on social media nearly as much. Privately I’m sure it’s much more popular however people, seem to be, more frightened to share it or comment on it or even engage in it in any way.
Nudity and the reaction to it is such an interesting topic. Thank you for sharing your experience and thoughts with us.
Thanks for sharing your views Michael, they're very interesting. I must be around the same age as you for what you describe and I too grew up in an environment that frowned upon any softness of my masculinity. However, art taught me to appreciate the human body both male and female equally. My work now was born from an obsession with the human body and it's potential not just physical but intellectually as well so I can understand your admiration for the human body.
Historically you're not too far off, while Greek and Roman artists were fascinated with the human body, Christianity in the early middle ages changed the narrative into religious adoration. But look at Japan in that period, they were obsessed with the human body. Later in the renaissance art took a turn looking back into the Greek and Roman adoration of the human body and from then on it's been clothes on-clothes off non stopping depending on who was the trend setter of each period until photography arrived and was able to capture the human body as it is, without artistic interpretations.
Michael, thank you for the article and for raising the questions. I was speculating on this topic specifically a couple weeks ago - why have male nudes all but disappeared from art? They stopped during the impressionist period, so around the 1860s.
I'm a female figure model (photographic and live art - I model 30 hours a a week) and I'm a photographer. I have done both for 15 years. I'm a survivor of incest and other childhood traumas, so when I make my own art work, I make nude self portraits to process my emotions. They are NOT well-received on social media. In fact, Instagram and Facebook have continually removed and flagged the posting of tasteful fine art nudes; but all of the p*rn images I see when I scroll are just fine to keep recommending. Just today, I posted that I had a tintype (self-portrait with one exposed breast) accepted as a finalist into a juried photo festival (the image is on their flier), but Instagram removed my content. My account is not recommended nor shown in any searches, yet I am still a major threat.
A friend shared that nude artwork I texted to him iPhone to iPhone came with 3 warnings - "This could be sensitive. Are you sure you want to view? Nude photos and videos can be used to hurt people. Once you view this, you can't unsee it." and "It's your choice, but make sure you feel safe." It now appears this type of censorship is no longer limited to public platforms but is occurring peer-to-peer via Apple phones and Verizon networks.
It seems more apropos that currently, not religion, corporations and social media are behind the attacks against all nude bodies being depicted in safe, empowering ways. If the nude body can be used and exploited, they're all in, but when a body is reclaimed and shown as beautiful, as empowered, as filled with life, perfectly imperfect, that's triggering to corporations and their profits. If we don't hate ourselves, we won't buy products to change and improve ourselves, and they'll make less money. If we don't hate ourselves, we won't spend hours scrolling on social media instead of creating art.
This is an accurate description of what is happening for sure… vitriol, aggression, agitation, and sex all stir up comments and hits and engagement. They know this and the artistic side of nudity is shunned.
That last paragraph needs to be framed, quoted and highly valued. It is straight up facts.
Beautiful thoughts through this exploration. I have grown up with the idea that men's bodies are not beautiful. I'm sure it stems from patriarchal ideals that shy away from gender discussions and that makes me so sad. I'm now open to challenge these and converse with others about their experience. I'm curious about my partner's history with this as well.
I, a straight Xennial woman, have only started admiring the beauty of the male form over the past couple of years. I mention my generation for the same reason you did -- purity culture really did a number on us, whether we were church-going or not, eh? And some of us (okay, me) are still unravelling all of that to find out who we really are underneath, who or what we find beautiful, and to learn to be sexual people without feeling guilt.
Thank you for honesty!
As an artist, I am constantly searching for male images.
Thank you for this amazing article. As a child of the 70s, I can totally relate to your arguments and descriptions. I feel the same way. I find your approach to photographing the naked man very exciting and definitely worth pursuing further. Wonderful photographs.
What also stands out to me is that when men are shown naked, there’s a clear effort to avoid showing their genitals entirely, unlike the ancient Greeks, who were very true-to-life in their depictions. For women, it’s completely different. The genital area is often shown more openly—at least the so-called “shame area,” as we call it in Germany, which in itself says a lot.
I personally prefer photographing women because I find them more aesthetic than men, as a male, but I’ve started experimenting with nude self-portraits. I think you’ve sparked a question in me, and I’ll dive deeper into the topic of male nude photography.