![Painting, Ohne Titel, William Mountgoaten](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2040987_1_grid.jpg)
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![Painting, Ohne Titel, William Mountgoaten](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2040987_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Eros und Thanatos, William Mountgoaten](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2040915_1_grid.jpg)
Eros und Thanatos
William Mountgoaten
Painting - 180 x 220 x 5 cm Painting - 70.9 x 86.6 x 2 inch
$10,426
![Painting, Eros und Thanatos, William Mountgoaten](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2039283_1_grid.jpg)
Eros und Thanatos
William Mountgoaten
Painting - 160 x 100 x 2.5 cm Painting - 63 x 39.4 x 1 inch
$6,727
![Painting, Ohne titel, William Mountgoaten](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2039112_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Akt, William Mountgoaten](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2017392_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Fukushima, William Mountgoaten](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2016084_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Fukushima, William Mountgoaten](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2016075_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Portrait, William Mountgoaten](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2016063_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Eros und Thanatos, William Mountgoaten](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2013915_1_grid.jpg)
Eros und Thanatos
William Mountgoaten
Painting - 120 x 160 x 2.5 cm Painting - 47.2 x 63 x 1 inch
$7,848
![Painting, Leonardo trifft Egon, William Mountgoaten](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2013792_1_grid.jpg)
Leonardo trifft Egon
William Mountgoaten
Painting - 160 x 120 x 2.5 cm Painting - 63 x 47.2 x 1 inch
$7,287
![Painting, Eros und Thanatos, William Mountgoaten](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2011104_1_grid.jpg)
Eros und Thanatos
William Mountgoaten
Painting - 200 x 240 x 5 cm Painting - 78.7 x 94.5 x 2 inch
$12,332
![Sculpture, Ohne Titel, William Mountgoaten](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2010984_1_grid.jpg)
Ohne Titel
William Mountgoaten
Sculpture - 70 x 180 x 40 cm Sculpture - 27.6 x 70.9 x 15.7 inch
$9,529
![Painting, Eros und Thanatos, William Mountgoaten](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2010966_1_grid.jpg)
Eros und Thanatos
William Mountgoaten
Painting - 180 x 220 x 5 cm Painting - 70.9 x 86.6 x 2 inch
$10,090
![Painting, Ohne Titel, William Mountgoaten](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2009838_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Akt, William Mountgoaten](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2009832_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Akt, William Mountgoaten](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2009823_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Study After Giorgione's "Sleeping Venus" (DIV 100), Atom Hovhanesyan](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1732929_1_grid.jpg)
Study After Giorgione's "Sleeping Venus" (DIV 100)
Atom Hovhanesyan
Painting - 76.2 x 122 x 3.8 cm Painting - 30 x 48 x 1.5 inch
$5,717,621
![Sculpture, Epicure, Michèle Chast](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2137306_1_grid.jpg)
![Sculpture, Amazone 60, Daniel Perreu](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1756560_1_grid.jpg)
![Sculpture, L'attente 180, Daniel Perreu](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1756221_1_grid.jpg)
L'attente 180
Daniel Perreu
Sculpture - 174.5 x 24.7 x 2 cm Sculpture - 68.7 x 9.7 x 0.8 inch
$4,271
![Sculpture, Small relief in bronze, Ohad Ben-Ayala](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1991562_1_grid.jpg)
Small relief in bronze
Ohad Ben-Ayala
Sculpture - 15 x 14 x 5 cm Sculpture - 5.9 x 5.5 x 2 inch
$426
![Sculpture, Small relief in bronze, Ohad Ben-Ayala](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1988220_1_grid.jpg)
Small relief in bronze
Ohad Ben-Ayala
Sculpture - 13 x 12 x 4 cm Sculpture - 5.1 x 4.7 x 1.6 inch
$269
![Painting, Soho, Anastasia Kurakina](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1981557_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, OTT-22, Alexandre Moore Rockefeller](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1944354_1_grid.jpg)
OTT-22
Alexandre Moore Rockefeller
Painting - 100 x 73 x 0.6 cm Painting - 39.4 x 28.7 x 0.2 inch
$5,606
![Painting, Lumière intérieure 4-22, Alexandre Moore Rockefeller](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1944336_1_grid.jpg)
Lumière intérieure 4-22
Alexandre Moore Rockefeller
Painting - 118 x 42 x 0.5 cm Painting - 46.5 x 16.5 x 0.2 inch
$4,260
![Painting, Écho de lumière 4-22, Alexandre Moore Rockefeller](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1944327_1_grid.jpg)
Écho de lumière 4-22
Alexandre Moore Rockefeller
Painting - 100 x 64 x 0.6 cm Painting - 39.4 x 25.2 x 0.2 inch
$4,821
![Painting, Female nude: EVENING WALK AT THE BEACH, Oswin Gesselli](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1486230_1_grid.jpg)
Female nude: EVENING WALK AT THE BEACH
Oswin Gesselli
Painting - 120 x 80 x 4 cm Painting - 47.2 x 31.5 x 1.6 inch
$6,458
![Sculpture, L'Africaine, Véronique Vigneron](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/946593_1_grid.jpg)
![Fine Art Drawings, N° 790 Etirement, R. Cavalié](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2104644_1_grid.jpg)
N° 790 Etirement
R. Cavalié
Fine Art Drawings - 64 x 43 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.2 x 16.9 x 0.1 inch
$224
![Fine Art Drawings, N° 755 Etude VII, R. Cavalié](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2017812_1_grid.jpg)
N° 755 Etude VII
R. Cavalié
Fine Art Drawings - 39 x 60 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.4 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch
$258
![Fine Art Drawings, N° 736 Etude VI. Dyptique., R. Cavalié](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2012895_1_grid.jpg)
N° 736 Etude VI. Dyptique.
R. Cavalié
Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch
$224
![Fine Art Drawings, N° 771 Chansons d'amour., R. Cavalié](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2006985_1_grid.jpg)
N° 771 Chansons d'amour.
R. Cavalié
Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 50 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch
$258
![Fine Art Drawings, N° 706 Nymphette 2., R. Cavalié](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2006958_1_grid.jpg)
N° 706 Nymphette 2.
R. Cavalié
Fine Art Drawings - 38 x 44 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 17.3 x 0.1 inch
$202
![Painting, Eros und Thanatos, William Mountgoaten](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2017368_1_grid.jpg)
Eros und Thanatos
William Mountgoaten
Painting - 150 x 120 x 5 cm Painting - 59.1 x 47.2 x 2 inch
$7,287
![Sculpture, Eros und Thanatos, William Mountgoaten](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2014488_1_grid.jpg)
Eros und Thanatos
William Mountgoaten
Sculpture - 120 x 120 x 60 cm Sculpture - 47.2 x 47.2 x 23.6 inch
$6,166
![Sculpture, Eros und Thanatos, William Mountgoaten](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2014485_1_grid.jpg)
Eros und Thanatos
William Mountgoaten
Sculpture - 190 x 70 x 60 cm Sculpture - 74.8 x 27.6 x 23.6 inch
$8,969
![Painting, Ohne Titel, William Mountgoaten](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2013804_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Recueillement, Lisbeth Buonanno](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1948674_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Les couleurs de l'été, Lisbeth Buonanno](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1946016_1_grid.jpg)
Les couleurs de l'été
Lisbeth Buonanno
Painting - 15 x 10 x 1 cm Painting - 5.9 x 3.9 x 0.4 inch
$448
![Fine Art Drawings, Le spectre, Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1289484_1_grid.jpg)
Le spectre
Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle
Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 29.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.6 x 0 inch
$559
![Sculpture, Small relief in bronze, Ohad Ben-Ayala](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1991526_1_grid.jpg)
Small relief in bronze
Ohad Ben-Ayala
Sculpture - 13 x 12 x 4 cm Sculpture - 5.1 x 4.7 x 1.6 inch
$269
![Painting, Divas de Jazz, Kristina Malashchenko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2133469_1_grid.jpg)
Divas de Jazz
Kristina Malashchenko
Painting - 30 x 90 x 3 cm Painting - 11.8 x 35.4 x 1.2 inch
$3,588
![Fine Art Drawings, N° 631 Baïkal découvrant la non-zone, R. Cavalié](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2118168_1_grid.jpg)
N° 631 Baïkal découvrant la non-zone
R. Cavalié
Fine Art Drawings - 24 x 42 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9.4 x 16.5 x 0.1 inch
$247
![Fine Art Drawings, N° 624 Monette, R. Cavalié](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2118165_1_grid.jpg)
N° 624 Monette
R. Cavalié
Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 35 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 13.8 x 0 inch
$247
![Fine Art Drawings, N° 612 Mon petit doigt m'a dit, R. Cavalié](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2118159_1_grid.jpg)
N° 612 Mon petit doigt m'a dit
R. Cavalié
Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 65 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 25.6 x 0.1 inch
$246
![Fine Art Drawings, N° 711 Aubergine, R. Cavalié](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2098086_1_grid.jpg)
N° 711 Aubergine
R. Cavalié
Fine Art Drawings - 25 x 70 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9.8 x 27.6 x 0.1 inch
$202
![Fine Art Drawings, N° 826 Pierrot lunaire au féminin., R. Cavalié](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2003217_1_grid.jpg)
N° 826 Pierrot lunaire au féminin.
R. Cavalié
Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 39 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 15.4 x 0.1 inch
$258
![Fine Art Drawings, N° 805 Inapte 1., R. Cavalié](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2003208_1_grid.jpg)
N° 805 Inapte 1.
R. Cavalié
Fine Art Drawings - 61 x 38 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 24 x 15 x 0.1 inch
$258
![Painting, Polka dot panties, Kristina Malashchenko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1663668_1_grid.jpg)
Polka dot panties
Kristina Malashchenko
Painting - 70 x 50 x 1 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
$3,812
![Painting, Depth of the emerald ocean, Kristina Malashchenko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1659420_1_grid.jpg)
Depth of the emerald ocean
Kristina Malashchenko
Painting - 70 x 50 x 1 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
$2,635
![Painting, N° 1134 Covid 19 (7) La rage 2., R. Cavalié](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1283412_1_grid.jpg)
N° 1134 Covid 19 (7) La rage 2.
R. Cavalié
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$448
![Painting, Working cycles - Trance, Vlada Hauser](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1987779_1_grid.jpg)
Working cycles - Trance
Vlada Hauser
Painting - 100 x 300 x 3.5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 118.1 x 1.4 inch
$12,020
![Sculpture, Souplesse 150, Daniel Perreu](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1756182_1_grid.jpg)
Souplesse 150
Daniel Perreu
Sculpture - 155.5 x 73 x 4.4 cm Sculpture - 61.2 x 28.7 x 1.7 inch
$7,052
![Painting, The woman in blue, Alexandre Moore Rockefeller](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2150268_1_grid.jpg)
The woman in blue
Alexandre Moore Rockefeller
Painting - 102 x 67 x 0.6 cm Painting - 40.2 x 26.4 x 0.2 inch
$5,718
![Painting, Eros und Thanatos, William Mountgoaten](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2009892_1_grid.jpg)
Eros und Thanatos
William Mountgoaten
Painting - 200 x 200 x 5 cm Painting - 78.7 x 78.7 x 2 inch
$10,090
![Painting, Lumière 1-22, Alexandre Moore Rockefeller](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1943754_1_grid.jpg)
Lumière 1-22
Alexandre Moore Rockefeller
Painting - 80 x 79 x 0.2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.1 x 0.1 inch
$6,166
![Painting, Despair (DIV 028), Atom Hovhanesyan](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1731738_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Ma chère, Kristina Malashchenko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1674960_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Elle The wall /, Didier Cormillot](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2137266_1_grid.jpg)
Elle The wall /
Didier Cormillot
Photography - 80 x 60 x 0.5 cm Photography - 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.2 inch
$303
![Photography, ELLE L'horizon /, Didier Cormillot](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2097690_1_grid.jpg)
ELLE L'horizon /
Didier Cormillot
Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.5 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.2 inch
$303
![Photography, Elle Couvrez ce sein, que je ne saurais voir /, Didier Cormillot](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2095131_1_grid.jpg)
Elle Couvrez ce sein, que je ne saurais voir /
Didier Cormillot
Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.5 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.2 inch
$303
![Photography, SHE and the setting sun /, Didier Cormillot](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2005788_1_grid.jpg)
SHE and the setting sun /
Didier Cormillot
Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.5 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.2 inch
$303
![Photography, Elle « Punition au soleil couchant », Didier Cormillot](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2004186_1_grid.jpg)
Elle « Punition au soleil couchant »
Didier Cormillot
Photography - 60 x 40 x 0.2 cm Photography - 23.6 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch
$303
![Photography, Elle et l'été /, Didier Cormillot](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1973058_1_grid.jpg)
Elle et l'été /
Didier Cormillot
Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.2 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch
$258
![Photography, ELLE Juste un regard /, Didier Cormillot](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1954158_1_grid.jpg)
ELLE Juste un regard /
Didier Cormillot
Photography - 60 x 40 x 0.2 cm Photography - 23.6 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch
$258
![Photography, My first nudes 1978 N°5 /, Didier Cormillot](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1899516_1_grid.jpg)
My first nudes 1978 N°5 /
Didier Cormillot
Photography - 60 x 40 x 0.2 cm Photography - 23.6 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch
$258
![Photography, Elle Son corps dévoilé /, Didier Cormillot](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1887159_1_grid.jpg)
Elle Son corps dévoilé /
Didier Cormillot
Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.5 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.2 inch
$258
![Photography, Marie au Château 1, Didier Cormillot](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1799094_1_grid.jpg)
Marie au Château 1
Didier Cormillot
Photography - 60 x 42 x 0.2 cm Photography - 23.6 x 16.5 x 0.1 inch
$258
![Photography, Elle Classic pose, Didier Cormillot](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1786356_1_grid.jpg)
Elle Classic pose
Didier Cormillot
Photography - 60 x 40 x 0.5 cm Photography - 23.6 x 15.7 x 0.2 inch
$258
![Photography, My first nudes 1978 N°4 /, Didier Cormillot](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1769688_1_grid.jpg)
My first nudes 1978 N°4 /
Didier Cormillot
Photography - 42 x 60 x 0.2 cm Photography - 16.5 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch
$258
![Photography, ELLE on the rocks /, Didier Cormillot](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1768572_1_grid.jpg)
ELLE on the rocks /
Didier Cormillot
Photography - 60 x 80 x 0.2 cm Photography - 23.6 x 31.5 x 0.1 inch
$258
![Photography, ELLE Dans les iles /, Didier Cormillot](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1765494_1_grid.jpg)
ELLE Dans les iles /
Didier Cormillot
Photography - 60 x 40 x 0.2 cm Photography - 23.6 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch
$258
![Photography, ELLE Lying in the grass /, Didier Cormillot](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1761492_1_grid.jpg)
ELLE Lying in the grass /
Didier Cormillot
Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.5 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.2 inch
$258
![Photography, My first nudes 1978 N°3 /, Didier Cormillot](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1758690_1_grid.jpg)
My first nudes 1978 N°3 /
Didier Cormillot
Photography - 60 x 40 x 0.2 cm Photography - 23.6 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch
$258
![Photography, My first nudes 1978 N°1 /, Didier Cormillot](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1754064_1_grid.jpg)
My first nudes 1978 N°1 /
Didier Cormillot
Photography - 42 x 60 x 0.2 cm Photography - 16.5 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch
$258
![Photography, Béatitude, Didier Cormillot](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1721625_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, ELLE Look at me, Didier Cormillot](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1720449_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Elle La piscine /, Didier Cormillot](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1693812_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Elle Naïade /, Didier Cormillot](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1469421_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, ELLE et son reflet /, Didier Cormillot](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1436469_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Pencive mood-1, Anand Manchiraju](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1744371_1_grid.jpg)
Pencive mood-1
Anand Manchiraju
Painting - 50.8 x 40.6 x 0.3 cm Painting - 20 x 16 x 0.1 inch
$3,000
![Painting, Erotic mood, Anand Manchiraju](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1744362_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Find a woman, Kristina Malashchenko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1681578_1_grid.jpg)
Find a woman
Kristina Malashchenko
Painting - 80 x 100 x 1 cm Painting - 31.5 x 39.4 x 0.4 inch
$4,933
![Painting, Calmness, Kristina Malashchenko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1681548_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Freedom, Kristina Malashchenko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1681113_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Serenity, Kristina Malashchenko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1681104_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Madame with two moles, Kristina Malashchenko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1676034_1_grid.jpg)
Madame with two moles
Kristina Malashchenko
Painting - 100 x 80 x 1 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.5 x 0.4 inch
$5,381
![Painting, Madame #3, Kristina Malashchenko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1676022_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Naked madam, Kristina Malashchenko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1675968_1_grid.jpg)
Naked madam
Kristina Malashchenko
Painting - 90 x 60 x 1 cm Painting - 35.4 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch
$4,821
![Painting, Madame in black velvet gloves, Kristina Malashchenko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1674951_1_grid.jpg)
Madame in black velvet gloves
Kristina Malashchenko
Painting - 100 x 80 x 1 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.5 x 0.4 inch
$3,924
![Photography, Nu rose avec chaussettes blanches, David Martin](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2147879_1_grid.jpg)
Nu rose avec chaussettes blanches
David Martin
Photography - 60 x 40 x 0.5 cm Photography - 23.6 x 15.7 x 0.2 inch
$336
![Photography, Célestine endormie, David Martin](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2147876_1_grid.jpg)
Célestine endormie
David Martin
Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.5 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.2 inch
$336
![Sculpture, Diva, Michèle Chast](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2138804_1_grid.jpg)
Human body
'I wanted to conquer the world. But I also desperately wanted to understand human nature, and to know what was inside our bodies. To do this, I have spent whole night dissecting bodies, against the direct orders of the Pope. Nothing disgusts me. What I am looking for, truly, in all of my work and particularly in my painting, what I have looked for all my life, is to understand the mystery that is human nature' – from the notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci in the 16th century.
At the time of writing these notes, da Vinci had already made greater understanding of the human body the primary objective of his investigations. Dissection and study were key to his development of a holistic knowledge of anatomy, which da Vinci believed was vital to the perfect rendering of the nude figures which he painted and drew.
Little by little, the traditional image of the human figure was uprooted and in its place new ways of interpreting the body developed. Contemporary artists relentlessly questioned the traditional codes of figure drawing, liberally reworking the representation of the body to create a new image that was dislocated, geometric, deformed and disfigured.
The body as an artistic subject is at once desired, fantasised, dreamt, transformed, deformed. For painters, photographers and sculptors alike the body represents a rite of passage in their artistic development. Many people say that they most appreciate the talents of an artists by way of their control over the complexity of the figure. For example, it's clear even in Matisse's later, more abstract collages that he had perfectly mastered the human form.
Representation of the body is fundamental to Western art: first and foremost because it suggests a representation of the self, and therefore affirms the artist's own existence and coexistence with the environment that surrounds them. At the beginning of art history, the only bodies represented were the gods, supernatural beings, and spirits who had taken on human form. The body, nude or clothed, is at once one of the most widely depicted and most deeply polemical subjects in Western art (think of the scandals provoked by Courbet's 'Origins of the World', or Renoir's 'Picnic on the Grass').
The body has always been the primary subject of an array of themes, and its history is rich and ancient. Initially, depiction of the body was closely linked to religion, where the Word became flesh in Genesis, but later in more secular times the arousal of the artist when faced with the body made for an equally popular theme. Latterly the notion of the body as an object of beauty was subverted by Cubism until depictions of bodies no longer bore any resemblance to reality or made any pretence of respecting the rules of proportion.
Finally, in modern art the body has taken on an abstract shape within space, becoming one with the environment. In some instances, the body has become the artist's own support, as with Klein's models. The body as an abstract concept is tangible in many different manifestations in art, even in pieces as unassuming as some of Rothko's paintings. It remains the subject of inexhaustible inspiration and eternal debate.