Women/men as appealing subjects

[Marcus Lim]

I've been fascinated by the female physique since i was a little boy, and having read my uncle's copy of Hogarth's human anatomy lying about on his shelves then.
Over the years i have studied, compared between genders and even come to a conclusion after looking at Da Vinci's works - female nude goes beyond the mechanisms of limbs and torsos. So i reckon the reason why more female nudes are preferred in paintings, is not only one of an educated tradition, but artists look beyond the flesh and into the spirit of the female entity.

To me, i've come to experience the Tao of "gentility amidst steeliness" when i work with female figures (with whatever opportunity i can get), and honestly i find this quality something difficult to capture everytime...it's kinda like "now you capture it, now you don't". This is unlike drawing male nudes, where formula and technique alone seem to be adequate in capturing its life.
Right now i can only think of Sargent as the best person who understands and captured this very essence on his paintings very well. How artists like him managed to transcribe this enigmatic quality, remains a question for me to discover. Do you feel that way too?

[Alexandra Tyng]

Originally Posted by Marcus Lim

i've come to experience the Tao of "gentility amidst steeliness" when i work with female figures . . .and honestly i find this quality something difficult to capture everytime...it's kinda like "now you capture it, now you don't". This is unlike drawing male nudes, where formula and technique alone seem to be adequate in capturing its life.

Marcus, this is exactly what I'm trying to say--except from my perspective it is the male subject (clothed or nude) that has a greater degree of some (probably a different kind of) elusive quality. Not that I am disagreeing with you. I think your viewpoint is valid and elucidating.

Mari, I's like to know more what you mean when you refer to "gender" as not mattering, and being the darling of university art departments. I can't figure out whether you are referring to an opinion or stance on the subject of gender or on a feminist perspective, or whether you are saying that the gender of a really good (classically-porportioned) model is insignificant.