Hello and welcome to Gallery of Nudes - one of the best free online galleries and a unique resource of fineart nude photography. Here you can find all important information about this site, some stats and a complete list of all our exhibitors and galleries.
The idea behind Gallery of Nudes
Gallery of Nudes started in 2001 with the idea to build a high quality community for photographers and visitors showing only ambitious nude art photographs from
couples.
Referring to our 5th anniversary in 2006 we expanded our galleries with some new categories: in these new galleries you can find high quality photographs of
expectant mothers, a preview of the
best erotic pay sites and galleries with
classic nude photography.
So today this unique art source shows in 6 different galleries the whole variety of high quality nude photography.
What is nude photography?
Nude photography is a form of art using the nude or semi-nude human body as a subject. In contrast to pornography this art does not aim to depict sexual activity but rather the beauty, the expression and the stile, the attitude and posture of the − often − female body. However, the sexual tension is often implied. This tension is merely understood as part of the human body. Nude photography is a development of the art nude − the portrait painting and depiction of nudes.
Instead of using canvas, brush and oil paint, the artist uses the camera. The depictions bear a strong resemblance to the portrait painting of the pre-modern times. Existing artists combined the classical methods of the portrait with modern forms of expression. The most famous photographers like John Ernest Bellocq, Alfred Stieglitz, Imogen Cunningham and others distinguish themselves by the perfect control of the subject, of the art and the technology of using the camera, but also by their understanding and the perspective viewing of the nude female body.
A short history of nude art
The art of displaying the nude body was already known in the ancient world. The earliest depictions of nude bodies are even older than our historical memory: 20 000 years ago the first nude female bodies were carved and the first figurines were made. Greek art knew the "heroic nudeness" and often painted their gods and goddesses without clothes. The Romans adopted this stile − many nude depictions were used by them in their wall paintings. Many examples of nude or semi-nude females can be found in Pompeii. Nudity was part of everyday life and not regarded as objectionable as it was in later times. The medieval concept of morality forbade the depiction of the nude body. Not until the end of the medieval era in the 15th century, the beginning segregation of man from the rule of the clergy and the return to the antique cultures (the renaissance) was nude art be appreciated and indeed allowed. Michelangelo Buonarotti and Leonardo da Vinci, famous for their works, number among the artists who first endeavoured to depict the nude human body.
While many famous (and not so famous) artists have used this method of depicting the nude body in the following times, this art was only able to enjoy great popularity since the 19th century, often domineered by the church and the state. In the 20th century, the attitude of man to his own nude body changed: nude depiction was able to exist as an independent form of art, not only as a provocative action.
With the invention and development of photography, the artist could express a new and nearly real depiction of his environment. A new form of art was born: the artist not only could depict the nude body but also finally do credit to the detail and authentic illustrations of the bodies he studied. In the middle of the 19th century, the first daguerreotypes, a very early form of photography, appeared, depicting the nudeness of people. Mainly French artists living in a liberal environment were able to use photography for their art. But they also (like their colleagues in other countries) often had to face severe penalties, for the authorities often did not tolerate things which they considered an assault on customs and morals.
Photography became an everyday technique at the beginning of the 19th century, used in leisure, business, science and art. It is therefore not amazing that it was used to illustrate the nude human body, as well, developing from the painted to the photographed version. The "Golden Twenties", a time of tolerance and liberality, the time of naturism and emancipation, lead to a new understanding: the depiction of the naked human body accentuates the beauty of the body and the unadorned purity and nature of the human being, his behaviour and sexuality. Nude photography became the most popular form of nude art in the second half of the 20th century. Artists like Man Ray, Robert Mapplethorpe, Lotte Herrlich and many more have employed it and have thus created a unique form of art.
Who exhibits photographs on this site?
Currently we have
2950 pictures from
185 international photographers & artists coming from
26 different countries around the world in our galleries - and it’s all free for our visitors.
You can find galleries from
Alexander Paulin,
Andy Hunger,
Claus Rose,
Gabriele Rigon,
John de Lombardo,
Jörg Blanke,
Manfred Baumann,
Paul Himmel,
Petter Hegre,
Wolfgang Prummer and many many more on our site.
Here you can find a complete list of all our exhibitors or visit our flash-based
worldmap of our photographers to find the one nearest you.
How can I exhibit photographs on this site?
We’d like to give all photographers the opportunity to present their photographs in one of our galleries for free. This option is not only dedicated to professional photographers, also newcomers are welcome.
We’re especially searching for photographers from countries which are not highlighted in our
worldmap. If you would like more information about how to present your work in our galleries please use our
contact form.
Our worldmap of photographers & artists
Our worldmap is a flash based animation were visitors and models can easily find favorite photographers and artists worldwide. We are always looking for new websites! If you are a photographer or an artist and you like to add your site to our database please visit or
worldmap and click on your home country. There you can find all information how to add your website to our database.
photographers from USA
photographers from Germany
photographers from Italy
photographers from Austria
photographers from Russia
photographers from France
photographers from Australia
see all countries
Facts / Stats
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Name of Site:
Online since:
Number of Photographers:
Number of Countries:
Number of Galleries:
Pictures:
Visitors:
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Gallery-of-Nudes.com
July 2001
185
26
190
2950
approx. 10.000 - 15.000 daily
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