The Female Body in Art

by Amy Dempsey

From the Renaissance to the present day, this is the history of art told through the female form, with over 80 works of art.

A cultural mirror of the times, the female body has captivated both artists and audiences for centuries. But what can we learn from these pieces of art? What are they trying to tell us about the world we live in? And how has that changed over time?

Explore the luminous portraiture of Gustav Klimt, astonishing wartime photography from Lee Miller and the ground-breaking performance art of Marina Abramović. Meet Leonor Fini's shepherdess, Barkley L. Hendricks's 'Madonna', Graciela Iturbide's 'Medusa', Toyin Ojih Odutola's adventuresses and Hayv Kahraman's 'army of fierce women'.

Discover the idealized female body as envisioned by Sandro Botticelli and the gender non-conforming portraits of Zanele Muholi and Yuki Kihara, as Amy Dempsey looks at how and why the female body has been depicted time and time again, and why its portrayal has often delivered important messages about - and to - the world.

Genres: Art

240 pages, Hardcover

Published February 10, 2026

Reviews

[criavolver · Rating 3 out of 5]

Table top book for anyone who loves art history. I discovered some new ones artists and became reacquainted with others. Perfect book to escape with at the end of a long day. Still stimulates a thirst for knowledge but also allows for you to get lost in certain works.

Something about it felt disjointed or perhaps forced. But it could just be my mood and the time of this book’s arrival that I am skeptical of everything related to media. For that I’ll likely revisit.