Overview
A sensual, visually opulent photographic history of the nude athlete.The history of sports is also a history of nude photography. Sports and games—indeed all forms of physical culture—have always been practiced in a state of at least semi-nudity. Yet never before have the sensual and erotic aspects of sports been celebrated with such enthusiasm as they are today. Peter Kuhnst's thoughtful selection of images traces the history of the nude athlete in photography from the mid-nineteenth century to the present. From Eadweard Muybridge's motion studies of runners and javelin throwers, through European Naturism, the painterly photography of Pictorialism, and Leni Riefenstahl's work under the Third Reich, to stunning contemporary photographs by Robert Mapplethorpe, Herb Ritts, Bruce Weber, and Annie Leibovitz, the list of photographers is long and varied, and their styles range from traditional to rebellious to humorous to provocative. This sumptuous and beautifully printed survey is sure to captivate both lovers of fine photography and sports fans. With 160 photographs in color and duotone by: Yann Arthus-Bertrand Diana Blok Lynn Davis Thomas Eakins Greg Gorman André Kertész Annie Leibovitz Herbert List Robert Mapplethorpe Eadweard Muybridge Leni Riefenstahl Herb Ritts Frank Eugene Smith Bruce Weber and many othersAuthor Biography: Peter Kuhnst is Professor of Sports Science at the University of Bochum in Germany and the author of Sports: A Cultural History in the Mirror of Art.
Synopsis
A sensual, visually opulent photographic history of the nude athlete.The history of sports is also a history of nude photography. Sports and games—indeed all forms of physical culture—have always been practiced in a state of at least semi-nudity. Yet never before have the sensual and erotic aspects of sports been celebrated with such enthusiasm as they are today. Peter Kuhnst's thoughtful selection of images traces the history of the nude athlete in photography from the mid-nineteenth century to the present. From Eadweard Muybridge's motion studies of runners and javelin throwers, through European Naturism, the painterly photography of Pictorialism, and Leni Riefenstahl's work under the Third Reich, to stunning contemporary photographs by Robert Mapplethorpe, Herb Ritts, Bruce Weber, and Annie Leibovitz, the list of photographers is long and varied, and their styles range from traditional to rebellious to humorous to provocative. This sumptuous and beautifully printed survey is sure to captivate both lovers of fine photography and sports fans. With 160 photographs in color and duotone by: Yann Arthus-Bertrand • Diana Blok • Lynn Davis • Thomas Eakins • Greg Gorman • André Kertész • Annie Leibovitz • Herbert List • Robert Mapplethorpe • Eadweard Muybridge • Leni Riefenstahl • Herb Ritts • Frank Eugene Smith • Bruce Weber • and many others
Author Biography: Peter Kuhnst is Professor of Sports Science at the University of Bochum in Germany and the author of Sports: A Cultural History in the Mirror of Art.
Library Journal
Publications offering images of nudes constitute one of the most common genres of photography books. Ranging from the highly artistic to the nearly pornographic, they tend to be similar in format and approach. Physique, however, is the rare exception. Thoughtfully conceived, well written, and visually intriguing (with over 150 illustrations), it offers a history of the photography of nude athletes from the 19th century to the present. As athletes, the figures are extraordinary specimens of the human form, and depicting them posing or in action reveals their beauty and grace. The text by Kuhnst (Sports: A Culture History in the Mirror of Art) and the photographs chronicle both the changes in the ideals of athleticism and the technical and artistic approaches of the photographers (among them, Robert Mapplethorpe and Herb Ritts). Related historical trends, like the rise of nudism in Euro-American culture and the influence of modern painters, add to the cogency of the author's analysis. A most worthy addition to any library collection focusing on art and/or sports.-Eugene C. Burt, Seattle Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.