(LEA3) Theme of the Body and the Representation of the Body

Theme of the Body and the Representation of the Body

Collage of different figures in sculptures

Throughout time, the beauty of the human body has inspired painters, sculptors, photographers and other artists. Whether the representations of the body are spontaneous like the few found in Paleolithic caves and rock shelters in Africa, or the intentional posed models of academic studies, it remains one of the fundamental reasons for all artistic creations. The figure serves as a representation of its artist's social and religious standards as well as indicates cultural values. "Through art, the body becomes a site for defining individual identity, constructing sex and gender ideals, negotiating power, and experimenting with the nature of representation itself." (Learner.org)

Questions for Thought

  • What have been the crucial milestones in the way the art of our times has perceived the human form and how has it changed? 
  • How do various disciplines affect perception and understanding of the body?
  • How does culture influence interpretation and understanding of the body?
  • How has the body been used to make a point - artistic, philosophical, political or otherwise?
  • How has it been used as a tool - at times literally (performance art) and at times figuratively?
  • How has the advent of new media starting with photography, video, installation, performance art, conceptual and other forms caused shifts in the way the body is treated?
  • How has globalization affected this representation and how have cultural differences led to varied interpretations?
  • How have the major events in history altered art's perception of the human form - World wars, famines, massacres, civil strife, recessions, minority and women's rights movements, etc.?

The College Board has used this theme on the AP Art History exam predominantly over the years. This review component has been designed to help you explore this theme. In the earlier modules, you were introduced to several works that use natural forms and motifs. The following list is just a few examples. In this module, a few of the works that are good examples of representations of nature and of the natural world are the following:

  • The Kiss. Gustav Klimt. 1907-1908 C.E. Oil and gold leaf on canvas.
  • The Kiss. Constantin Brancusi. 1907-1908 C.E. Limestone.
  • Self-Portrait as a Soldier. Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. 1915 C.E. Oil on canvas.
  • The Two Fridas. Frida Kahlo. 1939 C.E. Oil on canvas.
  • The Migration of the Negro, Panel no. 49. Jacob Lawrence. 1940-1941 C.E. Casein tempera on hardboard.
  • The Jungle. Wifredo Lam. 1943 C.E. Gouache on paper mounted on canvas.
  • Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in the Alameda Park. Diego Rivera. 1947-1948 C.E. Fresco.
  • Woman, I. Willem de Kooning. 1950-1952 C.E. Oil on canvas.19.

The following images from the past modules are a few of the possible examples of the artistic representation of the human body:

  • Statues of Votive figures, from the Square Temple at Eshnunna (modern Tell Asmar, Iraq). Sumerian. c. 2700 B.C.E. Gypsum inlaid with shell and black limestone.
  • Seated Scribe. Saqqara, Egypt. Old Kingdome, Fourth Dynasty. c. 2620 - 2500 B.C.E. Painted limestone.
  • King Menkaura and queen. Old Kingdom, Fourth Dynasty. c. 2490 - 2472. B.C.E. Greywacke.
  • Statue of Hatshepsut. Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut. Near Luxor, Egypt. New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty. c. 1353 - 1335 B.C.E. Limestone.
  • Akhenaton, Nerfertiti, and three daughters. New Kingdom (Amarna), 18th Dynasty. c. 1353 - 1335 B.C.E. Limestone.
  • Last Judgment of Hu-Nefer, from his tomb (page from the Book of the Dead). New Kingdom, 19th Dynasty. c. 1275 B.C.E. Painted papyrus scroll.
  • Anavysos Kouros. Archaic Greek. c. 530 B.C.E. Marble with remnants of paint.
  • Peplos Kore from the Acropolis. Archaic Greek. c. 520 B.C.E. Marble, painted details.
  • Apollo of Veii. Temple of Minerva (Veii, near Rome, Italy) and sculpture of Apollo, Master sculptor Vulca. c. 510 - 500 B.C.E. terra cotta sculpture.
  • Doryphorus ( Spear-bearer). Polykleitos. Original 450 - 440 B.C.E. Roman copy (marble) of Greek original (bronze).
  • Winged Victory of Samothrace . Hellenistic Greek. c. 190 B.C.E. Marble.  
  • Sculptures from the Great Altar of Zeus and Athena at Pergamon.   Asia Minor (present day Turkey). Hellenistic Greek. c. 75 B.C.E. Marble.
  • Seated Boxer. Hellenistic Greek. c. 100 B.C.E. Bronze.
  • Augustus of Prima Porta. Imperial Roman. Early first century C.E. Marble.
  • Virgin (Theotokos) and Child between Saints Theodore and George. Early Byzantine Europe. Sixth or early seventh century C.E. Encaustic on wood.
  • Justinian Mosaics. San Vitale. Ravenna, Italy. Early Byzantine Europe. c. 526-547 C.E. mosaic.
  • Venus of Urbino. Titian. c. 1538 C.E. Oil on canvas.
  • Birth of Venus. Sandro Botticelli. c. 1484-1486 C.E. Tempera on canvas.
  • David. Donatello. c. 1440-1460 C.E. Bronze.
  • Röttgen Pietà. Late Medieval Europe. c. 1300-1325 C.E. Painted wood.
  • Ecstasy of Saint Teresa. Cornaro Chapel, Church of Santa Maria della Vittoria. Rome, Italy. Gian Lorenzo Bernini. c. 1647-1652 C.E. Marble (sculpture); stucco and gilt bronze (chapel). Olympia. Édouard Manet. 1863 C.E. Oil on canvas.  
  • The Burghers of Calais. Auguste Rodin. 1884-1895 C.E. Bronze.
  • The Scream. Edvard Munch. 1893 C.E. Tempera and pastels on cardboard.
  • Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?
  • Paul Gauguin. 1897-1898 C.E. Oil on canvas.
  • Les Demoiselles d'Avignon. Pablo Picasso. 1907 C.E. Oil on canvas.
  • The Coiffure. Mary Cassatt. 1890-1891 C.E. Drypoint and aquatint.
  • La Grande Odalisque. Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres. 1814 C.E. Oil on canvas.
  • George Washington. Jean-Antoine Houdon. 1788-1792 C.E. Marble.

Learn more about the Two Fridas in the activity below.

Learn more about Dream of a Sunday Afternoon In the Alameda Park in the activity below.

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