The Greek Background

In Greek art men are very often shown nude, while women are almost always clothed; and this remarkable distinction finds a clear parallel in Greek life. Greek men were often seen naked in public—at least in certain contexts: they bathed together, excercised together, and engaged in sport together naked; while Greek women were at all times expected to be respectably covered. These two circumstances are obviously connected; but the connection between them turns out to be far from clear. In cases like this the normal assumption is that art follows life; but here, paradoxically, the reverse seems to be true. For all the evidence suggests that the prevalent male nudity in Greek art preceded the acceptance of male nudity in Greek life.

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