The Nude Male: A New Perspective

At a time in history where there seems to be a long overdue exploration of the male nude in art, here is a book written in 1978 by a woman who has not only done her art history homework, she has the ability to communicate fresh thoughts about chronic prejudices. Walters is a scholar and documents her book with copious footnotes, assuring us that we are not being delivered a personal agenda. But then, at the same time, she is not afraid to introduce commentary that is warmly humorous and at times scathing. Using a healthy number of illustrations of the works from each of the centuries she examines, Walters starts with Greek BC statues and the introduces painting, drawing, and finally photography as she marches us enlightenedly forward to the last part of the 20th Century. Unfortunately the illustrations are all in Black and White and are irritatingly paced at the end of each chapter making reading the text disrupted by flipping around to find the object being discussed. She is astute in evaluating the ups and downs of male nudity through time as the results of sociologic and philosophic attitudes in each century. She ends her book with a chapter on gay photos and a chapter on women who deal with the male nude. The book really doesn't come to a concluding statement........but perhaps that is intention: what will the 21st Century do with the Nude Male? A very fine book, worthy of your searching for out of print copies.