In antiquity and the Renaissance, the female nude was often used to represent classical virtues or mythological figures, such as .
Contemporary and feminist artists have worked to deconstruct these historical norms by portraying the female body with candor and agency. What's Up With All The Nudity? - Thrive Global Female Nudes
: Traditional nudes often lacked individuality, serving as "generic" bodies available for the viewer's consumption. 3. Reclaiming the Form: Feminist Perspectives In antiquity and the Renaissance, the female nude
: Berger famously noted that "she is not naked as she is; she is naked as the spectator sees her," distinguishing between simple "nakedness" and the performative "nude" created for a voyeuristic audience. - Thrive Global : Traditional nudes often lacked
A critical shift in understanding female nudes came with the analysis of the , a term popularized by critics like John Berger .