World Photography Classics: Human Body

Author: Di Yuancang, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-07-01
Features: To fully appreciate the beauty of the human body, one essential point is to undergo a complete transformation and elevation in one's thoughts. When facing a naked body (whether female or male), first forget all the organs and physiological functions it possesses, and instead view it as a large expanse of color, a collection of lines, and volumes with varying degrees of light and shadow. Only then can you fully appreciate the beauty of each part of the human body, the harmony of skin tones, the subtlety of line variations, and the highs and lows of different body parts. You will be amazed by the meticulous, perfect, and virtuous structure of the human body, realizing that it is the perfect work of art among all the vibrant creations in the world. Discussing the beauty of the human body in abstract terms can leave one feeling empty and elusive. Here, we have selected two representative works from the long corridor of human body art for detailed analysis. One is the Greek female figure of Venus, and the other is the Italian male figure of David. By the 1830s, after humans invented photography, images of the human body quickly emerged as a popular theme. Photography further enriched and expanded the artistic realm of portraying the human body. It not only captured the unparalleled beauty of the human form with unprecedented clarity and detail but also captured various dynamic expressions of the human body in various settings—on land, in the air, and in water—pushing the art of human body photography to new heights. For this reason, this album has curated and presented a selection of outstanding works from contemporary human body photography to the readers.