Nudes paintings have always evoked the female body, as many artists have done throughout history. The male gaze and desire for nudity have been the driving forces behind nude paintings since the Medieval period. The female body was less valued and less attractive than the male, which was more muscular and athletic. However, as nude art has evolved, the female body has become increasingly desirable. 

In the early Renaissance, women and men began to express themselves in nude paintings. The practice remained taboo as long as people were not charged. The ancient Greeks and Romans often painted naked people to express their fertility, beauty, sex, and love. Historically, they were often depicted alongside the gods. Nowadays, nudes portraits are considered to be a form of contemporary art, but it is not the only genre.