Naked Before the Camera June 12, 2012

Depicting the human body has been among the greatest challenges, preoccupations, and supreme achievements of artists for centuries. The nude--even in generalized or idealized renderings--has triggered impassioned discussions about sin, sexuality, cultural identity, and canons of beauty, especially when the chosen medium is photography, with its inherent accuracy and specificity. This exhibition of more than 60 photographs selected from the renowned holdings of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, surveys the history of this subject and explores some of the motivations and meanings that underlie photographers' fascination with the nude.