The Sexual Liberation of Women

Created by Adrianna Walker on Sun, 03/31/2024 - 00:28

Part of Group:

Sexuality and Modern Visual Culture ENGL/WMNST 225N SPRING 2024

This timeline provides a sociohistorical context for Tom Wesselmann's 1967 The Great American Nude #92. This piece offers a strong message on women's sexuality. More specifcally, it creates a statement on women's seuxal freedom in America. To understand the context behind this piece, we will dive into the education of Wesselmann, the political climate at the time of his creation, and a glance at women's history at the time as well.

 

Wesselmann, Tom. Great American Nude #92. 1967. https://www.tomwesselmannestate.org/artwork/1960s/. Accessed 30 March 2024.

Timeline

Education That Inspires

circa. 1956 to circa. 1956

To understand the artistic mind of Tom Wesselmann, one must understand the education that became his inspiration. Wesselmann moved to New York City in the fall of 1956 (Tom, 2018). He moved to the city to study art at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. Wesselmann at first had a focus on cartoon art as he made comics during his time in the military. But he was redirected to Abstract Expressionism when studying at The Cooper Union (Walleston, 2017). This art skill appears clearly in his piece. He worked under the instruction of Nicholas Marsicano. Marsicano’s work was modernist figure painting (askART, n.d). More specifically, Marsicano’s focus was on the female figure. A piece of his, Untitled, is featured in this section which offers an art piece of two nude women sitting beside each other. When looking at this piece, you can see the similarity between Marsicano’s and Wesselmann’s work. It is evident that education Wesselmann received inspired him. Furthermore on  Wesselmann’s inspiration, he met his wife, Claire Selley, at this time as well. It was said that his wife was his lifelong muse. However, Selley was not only his muse, but his model. Being a painter herself, she said she understood what was required for the role as a model. She also stated that the care she had for Tom added another dimension to the work created.

Sources:

askART. (n.d.). Artist Biography and Facts: Nicholas Marsicano. askART. www.askart.com/artist/Nicholas…...

Tom Wesselmann. Gagosian. (2018, April 12). gagosian.com/artists/tom-wesse…

Walleston, A. (2017, December 18). Wife and muse: Claire Wesselmann on Tom Wesselmann. ARTnews.com. www.artnews.com/art-in-america…


Associated Places

No places have been associated with this event

by Adrianna Walker

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A Progression or Setback in Women's History?

circa. 1960 1960

With the subject of Wesselmann’s piece being a woman, it is appropriate to discuss what was occurring in women’s history at this time. The decade of the 60s was seen to be a decade of change for women. One of the changes was that the FDA approved the birth control pill for women in 1960 (Walsh, 2010). However, it could be argued that this wasn’t a true advancement for women at this time. Rather, it should be considered a setback in women’s history. This birth control pill was only granted to women who were married (Broster, 2024). Furthermore, adding to its exclusivity, it was only in 24 states in the United States. The pill was 100% effective, but this could be because the dosage prescribed at this time was 10 times too high. Margaret Sanger and Katharine McCormick, who were considered the mothers of the pill, insisted that the pill was the direction to freedom of women (Public, n.d.). However, the reaction of many women was fury. Women saw it as another way to have the freedom over their sexuality stripped even more. Women were also frustrated with the fact the responsibility of preventing pregnancy was given soley to them. Women felt less in control of their bodies with this pill and felt the power men held over their sexuality.

Sources:

Broster, A. (2024, January 15). 60 years since the FDA’s approval of the Birth Control Pill. Forbes. www.forbes.com/sites/alicebros…...

Public Broadcasting Service. (n.d.). The pill and the Women’s Liberation Movement. PBS. www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexper…...

Walsh, K. T. (2010, March 12). The 1960s: A Decade of Change for Women. U.S. News and World Report. www.usnews.com/news/articles/2…...

 


Associated Places

No places have been associated with this event

by Adrianna Walker

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The Political Climate

The end of the month Winter 1966 to The end of the month Winter 1966

To understand Tom Wesselmann’s piece furthermore, I find it is crucial to understand the political climate of the time of this piece. In 1965, there were protests against the US government and its decision to have a war in Vietnam (A&E, n.d). This protest began because of the nation’s disagreement with the war being morally right and economically suitable. There was also protest of the draft at this time as Americans at the age of 18 were being drafted for the war yet were still unable to vote. Essentially, the government wanted these Americans to fight for a country they didn’t have a voice in. Wesselmann himself participated in one of these protests. In a form of protest, the Los Angeles Artists’ Protest Committee created the Artists’ Tower of Peace (Tom, n.d.). Sculpted by Mark di Suvero, the structure was a peace sign that was almost sixty feel tall, surrounded by works of artists, including the work of Wesselmann. Wesselmann offered his piece, which is featured in this section, Nude for Peace Tower. The symbolism behind this piece was said to be the representation of the female voice that is affected by the Vietnam War. Nude of Peace Tower offered defiance to the war and a call for the right for a woman to be free in her sexuality. The peace tower was unveiled on February 26th, 1966.

 

Sources:

A&E Television Networks. (n.d.). Vietnam War protests: Antiwar & Protest Songs. History.com. www.history.com/topics/vietnam…

Tom Wesselmann. Sothebys.com. (n.d.). www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/e…...


Associated Places

No places have been associated with this event

by Adrianna Walker

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Analysis on The Piece As Well As An Insight to the Timeline

circa. 2024 to circa. 2024

The Great American Nude #92  relates to all of the events present in the timeline. Analyzing the details of this piece can aid in understanding its purpose. One can see a naked woman in her natural form. One can see her nipples and pubic hair. The woman is faceless except for her parted, red lips, which creates a sensual nature to the art. Her legs are open to the viewer, offering again a feeling of freeness, but also inviting the viewer. There is an animal print blanket underneath her. This could perhaps be offering a metaphor to the sexuality of a woman as to an animal and perhaps the societal attempt to “tame” women. There are flowers next to the subject that seem to be in full bloom, offering the viewer a sight at the inside of the flower, just like the subject is offering the viewer the same view of herself. Beside the flowers, there are oranges. Fruits represent earthly pleasures and temptation, which can be connected to the nude subject next to them. Wesselmann creates a statement with this in his art as he is showing a celebration of women’s sexuality and the call for women to have that freedom.

Understanding Wesselmann’s education allows us to see where he learned the knowledge that he used to create his art. The abstract class he took at Cooper Union and the focus on the nude female figure in the art created by Nicholas Marsicano, who Wesselmann studied under, are both present in this piece. Understanding the dynamic relationship he had with his wife, Claire Selley, who was his muse and model, also aids in explaining this piece. Knowing that strong bond they shared, one can understand his respect towards the female body from seeing the respect he had for his wife.

The political climate greatly contributes to the art piece as the piece is titled The Great American Nude. I find that Wesselmann could also relate to the protest of the draft as he was drafted and served stateside in the Korean War (Omeka, n.d.) Also, as previously stated, he was involved in a protest himself. And in his involvement, his piece centered around the voice of women affected by this war. I find that the political climate is influential to Wesselmann creating this piece as he had these strong feelings about the injustice in America, as seen in his offer to the protest. Those injustices not only being what is occurring in America with the Vietnam War, but specifically the effect this war would have on women.

This time in women’s history could also offer insight to Wesselmann’s The Great American Nude #92. Many women felt they were being restricted in their sexuality with the FDA approval of the birth control pill. Wesselmann’s art offers that the disapproval to the restriction of sexuality of a woman. Calling the America he details “great” in his piece, he is defining an America in which a woman has no restrictions within her sexuality. Wesselmann is making a statement that says, "This is what a great America is, not the America we live in." 

All Sources:

askART. (n.d.). Artist Biography and Facts: Nicholas Marsicano. askART. www.askart.com/artist/Nicholas…...

A&E Television Networks. (n.d.). Vietnam War protests: Antiwar & Protest Songs. History.com. www.history.com/topics/vietnam…

Broster, A. (2024, January 15). 60 years since the FDA’s approval of the Birth Control Pill. Forbes. www.forbes.com/sites/alicebros…...

Harford, T. (2017, May 21). The tiny pill which gave birth to an economic revolution. BBC News. www.bbc.com/news/business-3964…

Independence Hall Association. (n.d.). The antiwar movement. ushistory.org. www.ushistory.org/us/55d.asp

Nicholas Marsicano. Nicholas Marsicano - Artists - Spellman Gallery. (n.d.). www.spellmangallery.com/artist…

Public Broadcasting Service. (n.d.). The pill and the Women’s Liberation Movement. PBS. www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexper…...

Tom Wesselmann. Gagosian. (2018, April 12). gagosian.com/artists/tom-wesse…

Tom Wesselmann. Omeka RSS. (n.d.). michiganintheworld.history.lsa…...

Tom Wesselmann. Sothebys.com. (n.d.). www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/e…...

Walleston, A. (2017, December 18). Wife and muse: Claire Wesselmann on Tom Wesselmann. ARTnews.com. www.artnews.com/art-in-america…

Walsh, K. T. (2010, March 12). The 1960s: A Decade of Change for Women. U.S. News and World Report. www.usnews.com/news/articles/2…...

Wesselmann, Tom. Great American Nude #92. 1967. www.tomwesselmannestate.org/ar…. Accessed 24 Feb 2024.


Associated Places

No places have been associated with this event

by Adrianna Walker

Education That Inspires

A Progression or Setback in Women's History?

The Political Climate

Analysis on The Piece As Well As An Insight to the Timeline

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TimelineJS

Chronological table

Displaying 1 - 4 of 4
Date Event Created by Associated Places
circa. 1956 to circa. 1956

Education That Inspires

An art piece of two blonde white women are nude, sitting next to each other
Nicholas Marsicano's Untitled

To understand the artistic mind of Tom Wesselmann, one must understand the education that became his inspiration. Wesselmann moved to New York City in the fall of 1956 (Tom, 2018). He moved to the city to study art at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. Wesselmann at first had a focus on cartoon art as he made comics during his time in the military. But he was redirected to Abstract Expressionism when studying at The Cooper Union (Walleston, 2017). This art skill appears clearly in his piece. He worked under the instruction of Nicholas Marsicano. Marsicano’s work was modernist figure painting (askART, n.d). More specifically, Marsicano’s focus was on the female figure. A piece of his, Untitled, is featured in this section which offers an art piece of two nude women sitting beside each other. When looking at this piece, you can see the similarity between Marsicano’s and Wesselmann’s work. It is evident that education Wesselmann received inspired him. Furthermore on  Wesselmann’s inspiration, he met his wife, Claire Selley, at this time as well. It was said that his wife was his lifelong muse. However, Selley was not only his muse, but his model. Being a painter herself, she said she understood what was required for the role as a model. She also stated that the care she had for Tom added another dimension to the work created.

Sources:

askART. (n.d.). Artist Biography and Facts: Nicholas Marsicano. askART. https://www.askart.com/artist/Nicholas_Marsicano/101996/Nicholas_Marsica...

Tom Wesselmann. Gagosian. (2018, April 12). https://gagosian.com/artists/tom-wesselmann/

Walleston, A. (2017, December 18). Wife and muse: Claire Wesselmann on Tom Wesselmann. ARTnews.com. https://www.artnews.com/art-in-america/interviews/claire-wesselman-56102/

 Adrianna Walker
circa. 1960

A Progression or Setback in Women's History?

A Planned Parenthood poster at this Time
A Planned Parenthood poster at this Time

With the subject of Wesselmann’s piece being a woman, it is appropriate to discuss what was occurring in women’s history at this time. The decade of the 60s was seen to be a decade of change for women. One of the changes was that the FDA approved the birth control pill for women in 1960 (Walsh, 2010). However, it could be argued that this wasn’t a true advancement for women at this time. Rather, it should be considered a setback in women’s history. This birth control pill was only granted to women who were married (Broster, 2024). Furthermore, adding to its exclusivity, it was only in 24 states in the United States. The pill was 100% effective, but this could be because the dosage prescribed at this time was 10 times too high. Margaret Sanger and Katharine McCormick, who were considered the mothers of the pill, insisted that the pill was the direction to freedom of women (Public, n.d.). However, the reaction of many women was fury. Women saw it as another way to have the freedom over their sexuality stripped even more. Women were also frustrated with the fact the responsibility of preventing pregnancy was given soley to them. Women felt less in control of their bodies with this pill and felt the power men held over their sexuality.

Sources:

Broster, A. (2024, January 15). 60 years since the FDA’s approval of the Birth Control Pill. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicebroster/2020/05/09/60-years-since-the-...

Public Broadcasting Service. (n.d.). The pill and the Women’s Liberation Movement. PBS. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/pill-and-womens-lib...

Walsh, K. T. (2010, March 12). The 1960s: A Decade of Change for Women. U.S. News and World Report. https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2010/03/12/the-1960s-a-decade-of-ch...

 

 Adrianna Walker
The end of the month Winter 1966 to The end of the month Winter 1966

The Political Climate

Tom Wesselmann's Nude for Peace Tower
Tom Wesselmann's Nude for Peace Tower

To understand Tom Wesselmann’s piece furthermore, I find it is crucial to understand the political climate of the time of this piece. In 1965, there were protests against the US government and its decision to have a war in Vietnam (A&E, n.d). This protest began because of the nation’s disagreement with the war being morally right and economically suitable. There was also protest of the draft at this time as Americans at the age of 18 were being drafted for the war yet were still unable to vote. Essentially, the government wanted these Americans to fight for a country they didn’t have a voice in. Wesselmann himself participated in one of these protests. In a form of protest, the Los Angeles Artists’ Protest Committee created the Artists’ Tower of Peace (Tom, n.d.). Sculpted by Mark di Suvero, the structure was a peace sign that was almost sixty feel tall, surrounded by works of artists, including the work of Wesselmann. Wesselmann offered his piece, which is featured in this section, Nude for Peace Tower. The symbolism behind this piece was said to be the representation of the female voice that is affected by the Vietnam War. Nude of Peace Tower offered defiance to the war and a call for the right for a woman to be free in her sexuality. The peace tower was unveiled on February 26th, 1966.

 

Sources:

A&E Television Networks. (n.d.). Vietnam War protests: Antiwar & Protest Songs. History.com. https://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/vietnam-war-protests

Tom Wesselmann. Sothebys.com. (n.d.). https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2015/contemporary-curate...

 Adrianna Walker
circa. 2024 to circa. 2024

Analysis on The Piece As Well As An Insight to the Timeline

The Great American Nude #92  relates to all of the events present in the timeline. Analyzing the details of this piece can aid in understanding its purpose. One can see a naked woman in her natural form. One can see her nipples and pubic hair. The woman is faceless except for her parted, red lips, which creates a sensual nature to the art. Her legs are open to the viewer, offering again a feeling of freeness, but also inviting the viewer. There is an animal print blanket underneath her. This could perhaps be offering a metaphor to the sexuality of a woman as to an animal and perhaps the societal attempt to “tame” women. There are flowers next to the subject that seem to be in full bloom, offering the viewer a sight at the inside of the flower, just like the subject is offering the viewer the same view of herself. Beside the flowers, there are oranges. Fruits represent earthly pleasures and temptation, which can be connected to the nude subject next to them. Wesselmann creates a statement with this in his art as he is showing a celebration of women’s sexuality and the call for women to have that freedom.

Understanding Wesselmann’s education allows us to see where he learned the knowledge that he used to create his art. The abstract class he took at Cooper Union and the focus on the nude female figure in the art created by Nicholas Marsicano, who Wesselmann studied under, are both present in this piece. Understanding the dynamic relationship he had with his wife, Claire Selley, who was his muse and model, also aids in explaining this piece. Knowing that strong bond they shared, one can understand his respect towards the female body from seeing the respect he had for his wife.

The political climate greatly contributes to the art piece as the piece is titled The Great American Nude. I find that Wesselmann could also relate to the protest of the draft as he was drafted and served stateside in the Korean War (Omeka, n.d.) Also, as previously stated, he was involved in a protest himself. And in his involvement, his piece centered around the voice of women affected by this war. I find that the political climate is influential to Wesselmann creating this piece as he had these strong feelings about the injustice in America, as seen in his offer to the protest. Those injustices not only being what is occurring in America with the Vietnam War, but specifically the effect this war would have on women.

This time in women’s history could also offer insight to Wesselmann’s The Great American Nude #92. Many women felt they were being restricted in their sexuality with the FDA approval of the birth control pill. Wesselmann’s art offers that the disapproval to the restriction of sexuality of a woman. Calling the America he details “great” in his piece, he is defining an America in which a woman has no restrictions within her sexuality. Wesselmann is making a statement that says, "This is what a great America is, not the America we live in." 

All Sources:

askART. (n.d.). Artist Biography and Facts: Nicholas Marsicano. askART. https://www.askart.com/artist/Nicholas_Marsicano/101996/Nicholas_Marsica...

A&E Television Networks. (n.d.). Vietnam War protests: Antiwar & Protest Songs. History.com. https://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/vietnam-war-protests

Broster, A. (2024, January 15). 60 years since the FDA’s approval of the Birth Control Pill. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicebroster/2020/05/09/60-years-since-the-...

Harford, T. (2017, May 21). The tiny pill which gave birth to an economic revolution. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-39641856

Independence Hall Association. (n.d.). The antiwar movement. ushistory.org. https://www.ushistory.org/us/55d.asp

Nicholas Marsicano. Nicholas Marsicano - Artists - Spellman Gallery. (n.d.). https://www.spellmangallery.com/artists/nicholas-marsicano

Public Broadcasting Service. (n.d.). The pill and the Women’s Liberation Movement. PBS. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/pill-and-womens-lib...

Tom Wesselmann. Gagosian. (2018, April 12). https://gagosian.com/artists/tom-wesselmann/

Tom Wesselmann. Omeka RSS. (n.d.). https://michiganintheworld.history.lsa.umich.edu/popart1963/exhibits/sho...

Tom Wesselmann. Sothebys.com. (n.d.). https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2015/contemporary-curate...

Walleston, A. (2017, December 18). Wife and muse: Claire Wesselmann on Tom Wesselmann. ARTnews.com. https://www.artnews.com/art-in-america/interviews/claire-wesselman-56102/

Walsh, K. T. (2010, March 12). The 1960s: A Decade of Change for Women. U.S. News and World Report. https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2010/03/12/the-1960s-a-decade-of-ch...

Wesselmann, Tom. Great American Nude #92. 1967. https://www.tomwesselmannestate.org/artwork/1960s/. Accessed 24 Feb 2024.

 Adrianna Walker