If you are dreaming of a naked woman it means that you are in contact with someone who needs your help. She might be your mother or another relative.
Originally published in 1950, Uruguayan writer Armonia Somers’s slim novel packs a major punch. A critique of Enlightenment values, its feminist themes echo those of Djuna Barnes and Clarice Lispector.
The Birth of Venus by Botticelli
As one of the most iconic paintings in art history, The Birth of Venus by Botticelli has had a profound influence on cultures of successive centuries. Featuring a naked woman – the goddess Venus – it has been interpreted in a multitude of ways by artists from all genres, from the English Arts and Crafts illustrator Walter Crane to contemporary photographers like David LaChapelle and Dolce & Gabbana’s designer line of Venus print dresses (worn by Lady Gaga).
Botticelli’s interpretation was influenced by Renaissance Neoplatonic ideas which were popular at the time. He believed that a nude woman represented divine love and the feminine ideal. The painting was commissioned for the villa of the Medici family at Castello and depicted the mythological story of the birth of Venus, a Roman goddess of love, beauty, fertility, prosperity and sex.
The image depicts a naked Venus, an embodiment of love and beauty, rising from her shell and floating above the sea. She looks like a classical statue and her long, flowing tresses are reminiscent of Classical Greek sculpture. She is surrounded by the wind gods, Zephyr and Chloris – or Aura and Adonis – who blow her to shore. She is also greeted by a woman, possibly the Hora of Spring, who holds a cloak to cover her.
It is a symbolic depiction of the birth of Venus, an event which is the prelude to marriage in Roman mythology. The painting was created to celebrate the wedding of the heirs to the Florentine dynasty, Giuliano Medici and his cousin Lorenzo de’ Medici. It is also thought that the painting was intended as a gift for the couple themselves and that it may have even hung over their bed.
The painting was painted on canvas, a less expensive alternative to wood. Unlike other paintings by Botticelli, it does not have the depth of perspective that was popular with his contemporaries. For this reason, many experts believe that it was meant to be viewed as an imaginary landscape rather than a real one. Botticelli added golden touches to the wings of the wind gods, the figures’ hair and their robes as well as to the shell and landscape elements.
The Origin of the World by Courbet
The Origin of the World, or L’Origine du monde, is a close-up painting by Gustave Courbet from 1866. It features a naked woman’s torso, her hands and part of one breast – but what is most striking about this painting is its explicit depiction of the female genitalia. Although Courbet regularly painted nude women, he seems to have taken this to an extreme with this painting. His almost anatomical portrayal of the female sexual organs, combined with his use of amber colors, has given the painting its legendary erotic reputation.
During the 19th century, this painting became emblematic of a revolution in art that rejected the smooth, idealised body of academic art and celebrated real life. This revolution was led by painters like Courbet and Manet, who both shocked their contemporaries with their tough depictions of reality. They also directly recriminated the hypocritical social conventions of the Second Empire that made it acceptable for artists to depict the erotic and even pornographic body only in mythological or oneiric paintings.
In 1866, a Turkish diplomat named Khalil Serif Pasha commissioned this painting for his private collection. He kept it in his dressing room, hidden behind a green curtain. He would invite guests into his room and watch them react to the sight of the painting. He once remarked that it was “a picture that will shock the whole world.”
Today, The Origin of the World is displayed at the Musee d’Orsay in Paris. It has been a source of controversy over its sexually explicit nature, but the painting’s legacy extends well beyond this. It has been seen as anticipating the erotic humour of Marcel Duchamp and has been interpreted by psychologists like Jacques Lacan. It has also been used as the basis for numerous feminist critiques of art.
The woman in this painting is unknown, but many scholars believe it is Joanna Hiffernan, who posed for Courbet as the model for a series of nude paintings earlier on in his career. She was the lover of Whistler, leading some to speculate that their relationship inspired this work.
The Reclining Nude by Modigliani
In a series of paintings from 1916 to 1919, Modigliani depicted nude women reclining on beds or couches. This painting from 1917 is one of the most famous in the series. The sitter’s stylized, outlined body spans the entire canvas. The hands and feet appear to disappear outside the frame, and her creamy skin glows against the dark red bed cover. In contrast to depictions of Venus from the Renaissance through the nineteenth century, where female nudity is couched in mythology or allegory, Modigliani’s women are unabashedly frank and provocative.
Like many artists of his time, Modigliani struggled to achieve recognition during his lifetime and it was only after his death that his works became highly valued. Modigliani based his paintings on a style of naturalism that was influenced by the work of Paul Cezanne. He used portraiture as a way to explore his own psychology and the psychology of his subjects, often friends or lovers. Modigliani’s figurative painting style often displayed quirks and asymmetries, reflecting his rejection of bourgeois tradition and existentialist philosophy.
Aside from his reclining nude series, Modigliani was also well known for his portraits and sculptural works. He incorporated African masks into his work and he was heavily influenced by Constantin Brancusi’s sculptures. Modigliani’s figures were often elongated and had angular faces with almond-shaped eyes. They also exhibited influences from the Renaissance and Baroque.
Modigliani painted with oils on canvas and he took up sculpture for a short time, utilizing limestone. During his career, Modigliani created over 200 works, including both paintings and sculptures.
The reclining nude series has been shown in numerous exhibitions. The paintings themselves have survived and have been sold at auctions for millions of dollars. The story of the “Reclining Nude” highlights the complex web of history, provenance, and human stories that become intertwined with a piece of art. This painting has witnessed the tumultuous artistic landscape of the early twentieth century and continues to evolve as it changes hands. The journey of this artwork has highlighted the dynamic interactions between a painting and its owner, collector, curator, art dealer, and museum staff.
The Nude by Hildegarde Handsaeme
Hildegarde Handsaeme is a Belgian artist that has become well known for her mesmerizing fusion of abstract and figurative elements. Her paintings convey a wide range of emotions and themes, and each one has its own story to tell.
Throughout her work, the self-taught painter explores passion, confusion and communication. She presents a vision of the world where the human figure takes center stage. In her paintings, the body is a mirror of a beautiful cosmos. Using black lines, she creates a vision of harmony where music is present. The keys of the piano, strings of a violin and even bells of a saxophone meld with her subjects to depict a harmonic balance between nature and the human body.
Throughout her career, Hildegarde has been awarded numerous accolades and recognition for her talent as an artist. She has been featured in various publications and has more than 35 personal and group exhibitions to her name. Hildegarde’s recognizable style has made her a sought-after artist for both collectors and art enthusiasts. Her original work has the ability to draw people into her universe and inspire a deeper reflection within themselves. This is the true mark of a gifted painter. Her work is not influenced by other artists and this unique quality is what sets her apart from others.