Discussion

[madshutterbug]

Two quotes Quotes (from a posting thread on Flickr):
'An artist friend of mine told me years ago that no matter what you portray in a nude, the face is what makes it beautiful, sensual, erotic or interesting. Without the face there is no reference of pleasure, sadness, pain, or feeling. A nude needs a face.'

And in response: '...I agree. Most nudes tend to be either academic or pornographic without a face.' (name is redacted with the ellipsis)

Comments?

Comments

[xjenavivex.livejournal.com]

I disagree. I think a face can do all of those things. Yet, the shape, the posture, positioning, lines, curves, lighting - I think those things have just as much to do with it when relied upon.

[merimask.livejournal.com]

I don't know...sometimes the way light and shadow and curves comes together (especially in black & white or sepia-toned pictures) is more artful than a highly detailed naked portrait that includes a face.

Like, these are beautiful compositions of curves and lighting:
http://www.dejavuphotographic.com/web/photo_details.asp?ProdId=228
http://www.dejavuphotographic.com/web/photo_details.asp?ProdId=227
...and not at all pornographic to me.

But these:
http://www.nu-photos.com/
...really do look like something you'd see in Vogue or Playboy or something like that. Less like art, more like portrait photography of naked girls looking seductive.

I guess it depends on whether your intention is to create an art piece or a portrait. One is universal, and the other is highly representational.

[wedschilde.livejournal.com]

a nipple is never academic.

[aineotter.livejournal.com]

I've seen beautiful nudes that resemble/evoke landscapes, and once series of paintings of nudes as landscapes, complete with sky, that are compelling and evocative. The face does no hold the sole claim to expression of emotion.

I think these photos are both expressive and beautiful: http://www.paulpolitis.com/bwgallery/nudes/photograph.asp?photo=28
(photos artistic, but not really work-safe)

[selvatica.livejournal.com]

Obviously a man thing as all the pictures shown here are of the female form.
I have no interest in nudity in pictures, male or female :)

[firesmithsghost.livejournal.com]

I think it depends on the artist. But I disagree that any artwork missing a face has to be something other than beautiful. I will agree a woman's face is by far a better feature than those aforementioned, but we're speaking of art here, not women.

Venus without the face is still beautiful, but is no longer Venus, as we know.

A photo of a naked woman with her face hidden by shadow is a mystery, depending on the skill of the lens, and I think you could pull this off with great effect.