Curve

Library Journal

The seductive, startling, and sometimes quirky images included in this survey of contemporary female nudes captivates the eye and stimulates the mind. As the first comprehensive look at the last decade of the female nude in fine art, this book, with essays by six art writers, further blurs the area among the erotic, art, and pornography. Demonstrating a wide variety of approaches to the female figure, works from more than 90 prominent and controversial artists are included in this delicious peek at nude bodies. Representatives from photography, performance and body art, painting, sculpture, and digital media are assembled for the 300 illustrations. Functioning as a counterpart to David Leddick's The Male Nude Now: New Visions for the 21st Century, Curve's similar purpose in exploring representations of the human figure includes previously unpublished works from both established artists and bold newcomers. Appealing to the voyeur in us all, the visually driven content makes the book delightful to browse yet supplies analysis of each artist's work to satisfy the art critic. Regular circulation may render this paperback edition ragged, but otherwise it is highly recommended for larger public and academic libraries.-Rebecca Tolley-Stokes, East Tennessee State Univ. Lib., Johnson City Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.