The penis in art

Art has often depicted sensitive subjects, and the penis is no exception. For centuries, the penis has been depicted in various forms of art, from sculptures and paintings to drawings and photographs. However, the way in which it is depicted can vary considerably between cultures, eras and artistic currents. The penis has been celebrated in erotic art since antiquity, with phallic representations found on pottery, frescoes and statues. These representations have often been used to symbolize virility and fertility. However, the penis has also been represented in more subtle and symbolic ways, as in the representation of the phallus in Greek mythology. In contemporary art, the penis is often used in a more ironic or critical way, with artists questioning stereotypes linked to masculinity or sexuality. For example, American artist Jeff Koons has created giant penis-shaped balloon sculptures, while French artist Orlan has used performance art to criticize female and male beauty standards. In short, the penis has been a recurring subject in art for centuries, and its representation has evolved over time. Whether celebrating virility, fertility or criticizing gender stereotypes, the penis is a subject that has inspired many artists throughout history.

Over the centuries, the representation of the penis in art has undergone a significant evolution. In Antiquity and the Renaissance, depictions of the naked body were commonplace, which included the representation of the penis in art. Over time, however, the representation of nudity became increasingly taboo, making the penis a sensitive subject in most cultures.

Works of art such as Michelangelo’s sculpture of David or Greek statuettes depicting nudity with simplicity have been studied and admired by many generations. Today, however, the representation of the penis in art is still a controversial subject. For example, the outdoor sculpture Transit Cloud by sculptor Gregor Kregar in New Zealand recently provoked controversy, with some viewers seeing a giant, offensive penis.

In the film industry, the representation of the penis has also undergone variations. Some films have chosen to show the penis explicitly, as in Nagisa Oshima’s L’empire des sens or Paul Verhoeven’s Turkish Délices, where the penis is used as a vehicle for passion and sexual freedom. Other films, such as Henri Xhonneux’s Marquis, go so far as to give the penis a voice, in a more humorous and satirical representation.

In short, the representation of the penis in art has undergone significant evolution over the centuries, from a commonplace depiction in Antiquity and the Renaissance to a more taboo subject in most contemporary cultures. However, some artists and filmmakers continue to use the penis as a tool to express artistic, social or political messages.

In 2013, the Musée d’Orsay is devoting an exhibition to men: Masculin/Masculin, l’homme nu dans l’art de 1800 à nos jours. A highly erotic program, but not the only one, the public expects to discover. Nevertheless, the exhibition’s curator, Xavier Rey, received several attacks concerning a “detail” missing from the exhibition: the Parisian public and art critics were surprised to find no erect penis in this exhibition devoted to the naked man. The naked man evokes the body, the body evokes desire, and male desire is visually… a hard penis.

So why the censorship?

While the female body and the female vulva give rise to thousands of interpretations and representations by male artists, the penis seems to be shunned by female artists.

First of all, it’s worth noting that women have been and still are vastly under-represented on the art scene throughout history, which perhaps explains the lack of case studies. Secondly, do you have to castrate the man to be a woman artist? Not according to Louise Bourgeois!

The famous Franco-American artist was immortalized by Robert Mapplethorpe with his sculpture Fillette, representing a huge latex penis on plaster. In this work, the artist claims to represent everything she loves and wants to immortalize, such as her husband’s penis. The somewhat ambiguous title Fillette is the subject of many questions. Her humorous answer is simply that men are sensitive with their penises, and that we need to pay attention to them, like to a little girl. Intense, isn’t it?

This is not the only Mapplethorpe photograph to feature a penis. In his album Cock, the photographer unveils a complete series of photographs of penises in all shapes and forms. With a gun, held in the hand, black, white, soft, erect – in short, there’s something for everyone. In his retrospective exhibition Focus: Perfection at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, sex is erected as a total art object.