Born: February 23, 1931, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Died: December 17, 2004, New York City, USA
Nationality: American
Style: Pop Art
Influences: Advertising, pin-up girls, still life painting
"I wasn't trying to criticize or shock. I was just painting the things that I liked and that interested me."
Notable Artwork
Great American Nude #57 (1964)
About Tom Wesselmann
Born: February 23, 1931, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA Died: December 17, 2004, New York City, USA Nationality: American Style: Pop Art Influences: Advertising, pin-up girls, still life painting Major Exhibitions: “Great American Nude” series (1961-1980s), “Still Life” series (1960s-1980s) Quote: “I wasn’t trying to criticize or shock. I was just painting the things that I liked and that interested me.”
Notable Artwork: Great American Nude #57 (1964)
This painting is part of a series of works depicting nude figures in flat, stylized interiors, often incorporating elements of collage (like actual objects or patterned wallpaper). The figures are often faceless and anonymous, emphasizing their status as objects of desire.
Significance
Wesselmann’s Great American Nude series explores themes of sexuality, consumerism, and the American dream. The paintings combine the visual language of advertising with the traditional genre of the nude, creating a uniquely Pop Art aesthetic. They reflect the changing sexual mores of the 1960s and the commodification of the female body.