The Origins of Erotic Nude Photography (1840's to 1900)

When it comes to the 19th century, the world of art completely changed as photography was invented. Of course, the birth of photography and the origins of erotic nude photography also begin, which makes the 19th century quite a big deal for everyone who loves erotic art.

Influence of Early Erotic Photography

For aspiring artists back in the 1800s, erotic photography was not as accepted as it is today. While today you can hop on the internet and browse through thousands of erotic galleries of all kinds of beauties, back in the day, all of this had to be done in secret, and, of course, without the internet.

Because the 19th century was a strange time, as there was a dilemma between public moral values and the private desire for sensual and erotic imagery, an underground nature of work for those who were interested in erotic arts had to be created.

Some of the early erotic photographers, like Felix-Jacques Moulin and a couple of others that we will mention later in the article, played a critical role in pushing the boundaries of art, and they worked hard to influence their point of view on the public, to make erotic photography accepted with more open arms.

Credit: Felix-Jacques Moulin

The Underground Distribution

Before anyone really bothered to change the public's perspective on erotic photography, the only way to distribute such content was through underground channels such as postcard markets, brothels, and private collections. Photographers such as Jean Agelou contributed their work to grow these markets and become quite popular even if they were dabbling into taboo kinds of art.

Credit: Jean Agelou

While everything was done in secret, there was quite a lot of visual erotica in the form of postcards on the streets. This just shows that there was definitely a public demand and that sooner or later, this form of art will become accepted.

Shifting Public Perception

Of course, when it comes to erotic art, this was nothing new. In the past, beyond the 1800s, there were lots of paintings and sculptures that explored nudity. However, photography was just not seen on the same plain as that kind of art. This is because photography added another layer to this art form, a layer of realism and accessibility.

Art predating erotic nude photography did not portray people as they actually are; instead, it was in allegories, mythical scenes, and, of course, in studies of form. But erotic photography was nothing like that, as it offered the human body as it is, without any idealization or hyperbolic elements.

The figures who started shifting the public perception of erotic nude photography and how it should be accepted are Eugene Durieu and Delacroix. Together, they started their quest to bridge the gap between photography and traditional art in order to prove that this medium could serve as an actual artistic tool.

Credit: Eugene Delacroix

Durieu managed to get his photographs to be used for studies of classical paintings, which was the perfect link between erotic photography and what many would consider high-end art at the time. This act really helped start off the chain of events, which would end up creating a space for the human body to be depicted in ways that are more celebratory.

Felix-Jacques Moulin

Born in 1802, Felix-Jacques Moulin was one of the first people to explore the world of erotic photography. He was quite active in France during the middle of the 19th century, and while a lot of his work was groundbreaking, it was equally controversial.

Moulin is best known for daring photographs of nude female forms. While that form of art is quite accepted today, back then, it was really pushing the boundaries of what was both socially and legally acceptable. Even if he was quite ambitious about his work, he still faced many legal struggles due to the explicit content his photographs were about.

Credit: Felix-Jacques Moulin

In fact, in 1851, he was facing serious legal repercussions and was even arrested. During his arrest, many of his photographs were seized as a part of the investigation. While it might not seem much, at that time, he was sentenced to a whole month in prison.

When it comes to his work, they had a tone of both artistic as well as a commercial approach. Every photograph he took was planned and carefully composed with great attention to detail. Moulin's photographs kept that classical air of beauty and restraint, unlike some of the photographers who came after him.

Credit: Felix-Jacques Moulin

Models loved working with him as he truly knew how to capture their natural grace and femininity. While a lot of poses were new explorations when it came to art, he also took photographs of his models in poses found in traditional art, like paintings and sculptures.

Eugene Durieu

Another French photographer who can be considered a father of nude photography is Eugene Durieu. We have already mentioned that Darieu had quite a big impact on the society of his day and age, as his photographs were among the first to be accepted by the public and used for studies.

That is because the images he took were quite astonishing, as they perfectly captured and emphasized the contours, musculature, and natural beauty of his models. His photographs were incredibly realistic, and at that time, with the equipment he had to work with, this was truly impressive.

Credit: Eugene Durieu

It is interesting to see just how much Eugene Durieu had on erotic photography, as some of the techniques he used over 200 years ago are still used today. He was really ahead of his time, and his contribution to early nude photography cannot receive enough praise, especially considering that he influenced the world to no longer see it as something taboo.

Jean Agelou

It should come as no surprise that the third photographer who helped push the popularity and boundaries of erotic photography is another French man. However, unlike the two previous artists, Jean was born near the end of the 19th century in 1878, and he only started to become active in the early 20th century.

Credit: Jean Agelou

Even if Durieu and Moulin made erotic photography more accepted, it was still a time when it had some social restrictions, so Jean did not have an easy time exploring the world of nude photography. However, his work became quite popular during the "Belle Epoque" period.

Of course, like with any nude photographer at that time, his first work was distributed in the form of postcards which were sold in secret. His photographs had an interesting twist, one that would appear to many who were interested in nude photography at the time.

Credit: Jean Agelou

Jean's photos included women posing in luxurious settings with soft lighting, which created a very intimate and refined atmosphere. His work maintained the perfect balance between eroticism and artistry, which is why he became so popular and why his work appealed to many. While he passed away quite early in his life in 1921, his work paved the way for the future of erotic photography in the 20th century, which is quite impressive.

The Foundations Were Set For Future Artists

In conclusion, early pioneers such as Moulin, Durieu, and Agelou set the foundations and caused the shift in society to accept erotic photography. Their work, even if it was done mostly in the shadows, has started off something much bigger than they could ever think of, and while it certainly took some time for their artistic expression to break the taboo meaning, their influence certainly resonates with modern photography and art to this day and on.