| As early as the 5th century BC Greek sculptors used | | | | the early days of photography. |
| the nude as a means of artistic self-expression. The | | | | The pin-up nude image, designed for titillation, made |
| nude sculpture was considered a beautiful art form | | | | its appearance in the mid 1800's in the form of the |
| and was publicly displayed in the ancient world. | | | | daguerreotype photograph. Erotic postcards, many |
| In the 18th and 19th centuries the classical arts were | | | | created in France, were extremely popular and were |
| very much admired; sculptures and paintings showing | | | | the beginning of the pornographic industry we know |
| the naked body were the major part of art gallery | | | | today. |
| and museum exhibitions. However the Victorians | | | | The emergence of the glamorous pin-up photograph |
| were strict on morality, and in the family home a | | | | came about because not only was the female form |
| portrait of the Queen, a framed religious tract or a | | | | revealed in all its splendour, but it also allowed the |
| landscape print would be the normal pictures to grace | | | | model a chance to put her own personality into the |
| their sitting room. No nudes here! | | | | picture. |
| Soon after the invention of the photographic process | | | | In this way the nude photograph caused a sexual |
| by Daguerre in the 1830's the first nude photographs | | | | response from the viewer as well as an appreciation |
| were created. These early photographs were | | | | of the artistry of the picture. Erotic postcards |
| intended to provide good reference material for | | | | enjoyed considerable popularity at the turn of the |
| painters and sculptors. Many of the early nude | | | | 20th century. Although they were called postcards, |
| photographs were posed in the manner of classic oil | | | | they were not sent through the post as this was |
| paintings to make them more acceptable to critics of | | | | illegal. They could be obtained, by those in the know, |
| this art form. | | | | from suppliers in every walk of life who were out to |
| The technical process in the early years required | | | | make money from a profitable trade. |
| extremely long exposures, so the nude model often | | | | The majority of the pin-up cards were mild by |
| had to stay extremely still for up to ten minutes | | | | today's standards. They were created to show a |
| while the shutter remained open. The pose of the | | | | pleasing image which would entertain and stimulate |
| model was often contrived. Theatrical settings were | | | | the viewer. These images, which can still be seen |
| used - the chaise-longue covered in heavy brocade, | | | | today, have innocence about them. Although often |
| floral drapes, large classical urns and other | | | | saucy, they are not the blatant images seen in the |
| paraphernalia were used to set the scene. | | | | top-shelf magazines around today. |
| The reality of the photographic image was | | | | In spite of the contrived coy poses of the models |
| considered quite ugly at this time, so the closer the | | | | these vintage photographs have great charm. The |
| photographer could make the photograph resemble a | | | | use of a primitive lens, slow film and daylight studios |
| classical painting the less likely he was to be accused | | | | created a luminous quality which any glamour |
| of creating something obscene. The model who was | | | | photographers would be happy to achieve in their |
| willing to pose unclothed was considered immoral, and | | | | work today. |
| 'respectable' women rarely posed in the nude during | | | | |