Historic and Contemporary Artists’ use of the Body’s Underlying Structure

I was very excited approaching this research point, as I am seriously enjoying exploring the human form and all to do with it. It’s been brilliant so far, and I’m keen to gain some inspiration and tips from other artists that focus on recreating the human form. I much prefer contemporary art to historic art, so I’m particularly interested to see what kind of contemporary artworks I can find in this task.

Fig 1 – Domenico del Barbiere; Two Flayed Men and Their Skeletons (ca. 1540–45)

I began with this piece by Domenico del Barbiere, a sculptor and engraver from Florence.
The engraving may reproduce a composition by Rosso Fiorentino (1494–1540), who may have planned it for a book on anatomy. Domenico, however, has signed his own name only (at the extreme left), and some scholars have suggested that the design is his own invention.

The engraving depicts two skeletons, each with a flayed man, standing in the similar positions, shown from the front and the back. The detail and accuracy of the human anatomy within this piece is phenomenal. There are so many features of this piece that you could miss at a first glance. For example, when you study the piece further you notice that the bodies are, seemingly, addressing each other, as though in conversation.

I find this piece completely fascinating. I’ve never seen anything else like it and it’s more detailed and striking than I imagined a piece from this time era could be. To think something as brilliant as this has been amongst us for thousands of years is captivating. It’s artwork such as this that has taught us so much about biology and the human anatomy, which makes it all the more special.

Between 1831 and 1854, the French anatomist Jean-Marc Bourgery and his compatriot Nicolas-Henri Jacob, a versatile artist, produced a richly illustrated and ground-breaking medical textbook.

This, like the previous piece, is unlike anything I have seen before. It’s really interesting to see the human anatomy displayed in such a way. Jacob created his work using paint, which is a form of media that I am keen to experiment with at some point in this part of the course. Looking at the brilliant range in colour/tone and the extraordinarily fine details the artist has achieved using paints has inspired me even further.

Fig 3 – Loïs Mailou Jones, “La Baker,” 1977

Next, I looked at the piece above by Loïs Mailou Jones, a vibrant and unique painting.

Jones produced many paintings, drawings and textile designs in the context of the Harlem Renaissance.

At a time when racial and gender prejudices pervaded society, she was capable of producing oil paintings imbued with brilliant and lush colors, rich patterns and references to Haitian and African culture. Her strong design sense and inspired vivid acrylic and watercolor paintings were proof of the talent of black artists even if her fondest wish was to be known as an artist, without further labels.

I love, love, love the use of strong colour and the incorporation of black lifestyle and themes. It’s beautiful and, again, it has inspired me to experiment with paints, and bold ones at that!

Fig 4 – Egon Schiele, Rückenakt mit orangefarbenen Strümpfen (early 1900s)

Egon Schiele developed an obsessive exploration of the human body, and wasn’t one to shy away from displaying it in all it’s glory. Genitalia, male and female, sex and masturbation was (and still is) a taboo subject, however, he explored it unashamedly which I find really inspiring. The confidence that Schiele had to explore the human body in this particular way is wonderful. It’s shocking, absolutely, but I doubt he would have been half as successful as he was if his pieces hadn’t been.

You’ll notice that as we move forward in time, and the gap closes between the now and then, that realism and the accuracy of form becomes more and more weird and wonderful. This is something that I really, really enjoy about contemporary art; much of it is very abstract, pretty strange and, at times, risqué.

I feel more confident working in styles similar to that of many contemporary artists. I find the modern depiction of the human form far more interesting than most historical depictions. I feel that artists have become far more confident in portraying their true self through their artwork, and guidelines just don’t really seem to exist these days. I also feel that, in modern art, the body is celebrated for what it is, instead of inspected and scrutinised for scientific purposes.

Fig 5 – DAISY COLLINGRIDGE, Quilted Body Suits (2010s)

London-based textile artist graduated from Central Saint Martins with a degree in fashion design, however, her creations aren’t something you’d see worn out on the streets. Her practice revolves around revolves around fabric manipulation and crosses into the realms of sculpture and performance.

The creations take lead from real human anatomy, with Collingridge then extending body parts such as boobs, stomach, and muscle systems into overlapping, squishy shapes. I’m reminded of duvets and/or pillows when I look at these creations. They’re bizarre and even a little terrifying, but they’re interesting, that’s for sure!

This depiction of the human body is distinctive and you’d immediately be able to pin the artist on the creation if you were to see it anywhere. I really like the originality and the creativity used to form these ‘suits’. The colours and the shapes used are accurate to that of the human anatomy, and, unlike most artists, Collingridge portrays the human form in a very unflattering and unusual way. For a start, all of her productions replicate obesity, which is something you rarely see in art.

Fig 6 – Nychos, Dissection of Marilyn (2016)

Finally, I looked at this piece by Nychos, created in 2016.

Nychos is an Austrian artist, currently based in Vienna. He began creating street art at the age of fifteen and established Rabbit Eye Movement (REM) in 2004, an art concept that transformed into a gallery space and agency dedicated to connecting networks of artists.

His pieces are created using acrylic on canvas, and they are quite something.

He is recognised for his exceptional anatomical imagery. His large-scale murals of translucent and dissected characters can be seen all around the globe. Deeply rooted in Graffiti and Street Art and shaped by pop-cultural influences, NYCHOS creates murals, fine art, illustrations and sculptures.

I just love this piece. It’s incredible. Odd, extraordinary and slightly disgusting. It’s very surreal to see one of the most famous actresses to ever exist depicted in such a crude manner.